Raise the river?

[TommyO]

Hero limps in middle position with 78 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. Maniac on the button raises. All fold to hero who calls. Flop is 569r giving hero the nut straight.

Hero bets, maniac raises, hero re-raises, maniac caps, hero calls. I figure we're either splitting the pot or he's got a pocket pair for a set.

Turn is a 7. Capped again.
River is an 8, suit not important. Hero checks, maniac bets.

Hero?

[Tosh]

Do you realise you are playing the board against a maniac?

[TommyO]

Yes. Obviously I'm not going to fold, I'm just wondering if there's any value in raising.

[Cleveland Guy]

Doubtful.

I don't think he is going to fold here, as it's unlikely he 1. Puts you on a 10.
2. Thinks that's a good reason to fold.

More likely he re-raises cause he is that kind of maniac, and now you have to call again and wonder if he has the 10.

At best you are giving more of your money to the house on a split pot. At worst you are giving the Maniac a bigger payoff for his 10.

[Tosh]

You think a maniac ever lays down here ?

[Warik]

Call.

He's not laying down. At best you're splitting; at worst he has a ten.

[CitricAcid13]

Call. Maniac will reraise because of how the hand has gone, and obviously yo're looking for at best a split pot.

[nykenny]

open-limping in front of a maniac is sort of "maniacally passive" - bad play, imo.

[TommyO]

Good point. I hadn't thought about that. So you only play premium starting hands with a raise against a maniac?