AK against a maniac and the rest of the table - Page 2

paperboyNC · #11 07-04-2005, 06:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If you do not play in these tough spots preflop, you will never develop your post flop skills.

I would gladly cap here, unless I knew for certain UTG would only raise with AA. I cannot see folding this against these opponents.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mike,

Thanks for the welcome. I was really worried about reading hands post-flop which ended up being my problem. It was very hard to put anyone on a hand.

Mike Gallo · #12 07-04-2005, 08:06 PM

I was really worried about reading hands post-flop which ended up being my problem. It was very hard to put anyone on a hand.

Finish what you started, how did the rest of the hand develop?

Mike Gallo · #13 07-04-2005, 08:10 PM

Maniac (SB) bets, UTG raises, Hero ?

Cannot fold. Your most likely looking at a capped turn no matter if you call or reraise.

paperboyNC · #14 07-04-2005, 11:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Finish what you started, how did the rest of the hand develop?

[/ QUOTE ]

This hand isn't really about the results. The Maniac had T9o and hit an eight on the river for a straight. I never found for sure what UTG had. He claimed he had 77 for a set.

My problem is that I tend to lose a lot of money at tables with aggressive maniacs, mostly because I can't read hands at all. It seems to be nearly impossible.

PokerStars 3/6 Hold'em (6 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is CO with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG raises, MP 3-bets, Hero calls, 1 fold, SB caps, BB calls, UTG calls, MP calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (20 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (5 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, MP calls, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, UTG calls, MP folds, Hero caps, SB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (16.50 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB bets, UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, SB caps, UTG calls, Hero calls.

River: (26.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 29.50 BB

Results in white below: 
SB has 9d Ts (straight, ten high).
UTG doesn't show.
Hero has Ah Kd (one pair, kings).
Outcome: SB wins 29.50 BB.

mtdoak · #15 07-04-2005, 11:28 PM

First off, against maniacs, you need to isolate, isolate, isolate. If he's going to bluff raise anything, never ever cold call a raise of his, always 3 bet, unless there are a sea of cold callers in already. You can manipulate him to protect your hand if he's to the left of you and use him to build big pots if he's to the right of you (ideal). You need to realize that the money doesn't mean much to them, they are having fun. Let him bluff at hands, and don't go too crazy with marginal hands (like midpair). You also need to remember the rule of overcalling, as a maniac will losen up a table and often you can gain more bets by going for overcalls than you will getting a cap in with him. Also, be careful when the maniac slows down in a hand. If he's been capping capping capping every street, and he checks the river...unless you have a very strong hand (i.e. set, nut straight, etc), you can easily check behind and take the free showdown.

Also, a good move against LAGs is to confuse them if you can. Change your play post flop, change gears heads up, and even use some "fancy plays" if you can find a spot to use them (and use them well)