[HighRollinAC]

grain of salt - this is my first hand reply, though i've been reading this forum for months.

i would have played both hands the same way - with an overpair and trash boards...bet bet bet. the turn of hand 1 is a little scary, but i probably would have bet that, too, hoping against a raise. on both hands you simply got sucked out on, i would attribute it to bad luck rather than bad play.

as for your other questions - from my own experience, when i'm at a table with maniac raisers, i tighten up unless i have a really good read (i.e., the raisers raise with everything/nothing, which ends up making your call nothing but a double blind). i wouldn't cold call with speculative hands, as you may just end up leaking bets. perhaps others could comment on the pairs and connectors.