Isolation raise against a maniac...

dozer · #1 05-17-2005, 02:27 AM

UTG is the biggest maniac, he has been playing a lot of hands and raising every hand played preflop and Auto-betting every-flop.

I three-bet this preflop even though it is a marginal hand, but against this guy I think my hand is best.

MP3 is a donk and keeps getting in the way when I try to isolate.

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 max, 9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, MP3 calls, 4 folds, UTG caps, Hero calls, MP3 calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
UTG bets, Hero??

This is a ugly flop for me, I know that UTG probably doesn't have much of a hand and calling him down I don't think would be horrible. But with MP3 in the way I think I have to fold.

Is my hand too weak to be trying to isolate with?

benkath1 · #2 05-17-2005, 02:29 AM

I wouldn't like being in your spot here. I would have to let it go. There are just too many cards that can beat you.

Weak tight?

gharp · #3 05-17-2005, 02:30 AM

I'd let it go. You'll get him on another hand...

JDErickson · #4 05-17-2005, 02:40 AM

PF isolation fine against a maniac.

Flop turbo muck

Remember when you are trying to isolate a maniac that the rest of the table is still there. If others are not respecting your isolation moves than you have to adjust and only do this when you are in LP after him. If you knew there was a good chance MP would call your raise than don't do it.

Ianco15 · #5 05-17-2005, 02:44 AM

I don't like this preflop 3-bet at all. Villian is probably not far behind preflop if he's behind at all. You're in early position and there's also the possiblity someone calls your preflop 3-bet with a hand that dominates you. Wait for a better hand to issolate against maniac.

You have no piece of this flop. Easy fold.

ArturiusX · #6 05-17-2005, 02:47 AM

I don't like isolating with this hand.

dozer · #7 05-17-2005, 02:52 AM

This is the first time I tried isolating a maniac, whats the worst hand you would do it with. AT, KJ offsuit etc?
I realized my position sucks and I shouldn't be attempting a isolation from here. I guess I got frustrated with this guy.

ArturiusX · #8 05-17-2005, 02:55 AM

[ QUOTE ]
This is the first time I tried isolating a maniac, whats the worst hand you would do it with. AT, KJ offsuit etc?
I realized my position sucks and I shouldn't be attempting a isolation from here. I guess I got frustrated with this guy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd do it with something you'd normally consider cold calling vs a bad player, but you re-raise because thats a better play.

ATs, KQ, 99, stuff like that.

Ianco15 · #9 05-17-2005, 02:59 AM

The answer of course depends greatly on my position among other things (how many opponents already in pot is another). In the circumstances of the hand you posted, I'm not reraising with less than ATs or KQs. Pretty much issolate/reraise with hands you typically would have open/raised with from UTG+1 on a normal table.

Entity · #10 05-17-2005, 03:04 AM

I don't like preflop. You've got too much of the field left to act here.

Fold the flop.

Rob