Adjusting To Semi-Thinking Maniacs

[gaming_mouse]

This guy is 41/20 but has been doing insane things to other people like cap semi bluffing turns and other wacky bluffs. but he is not totally lacking thought. he's been trying to steal my BB alot too.

He opens (this is around 50% of his hands), SB folds, I think about 3betting but call (should i have 3bet?).

The flop comes Axx.

What is my plan. He could bluff all the way here with anything. He could also raise a flop bet and bluff all the way after that. Etc.

What is my plan? Calling down doesnt seem right.

[timprov]

Raise the flop, call the three-bet, call the turn, then raise the river.

BTW, what was your hand?

[jdock99]

Do you have cards? If so, I would look at them and base my play accordingly. If not, I would refrain from putting any more money into the pot.

[gaming_mouse]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have cards? If so, I would look at them and base my play accordingly. If not, I would refrain from putting any more money into the pot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry bout that. KTo

[bakku]

hey jonah, just fold. the key to playing against maniacal players is to punish them when you actually have a hand. playing back at them with nothing is just chip burning

[gaming_mouse]

[ QUOTE ]
Raise the flop, call the three-bet, call the turn, then raise the river.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm acting first. KTo.

[gaming_mouse]

[ QUOTE ]
hey jonah, just fold. the key to playing against maniacal players is to punish them when you actually have a hand. playing back at them with nothing is just chip burning

[/ QUOTE ]

thats what i always thought. i dont know, it just seemed i was giving up too much. i'm running too bad to be thinking straight. thanks.

from what position did he raise? from the description it sounds like the button.

he sounds like the kind of player that would open-raise on the button w/ a huge range. if so, i would 3-bet pf for value, though just calling is not horrendous.

i think just check-folding this flop is giving up too much, somewhat depending on what the "xx" cards are. you are ahead of him a whole lot here and, even if not, will often have at least 6 outs.

i would at least call the flop, and definitely showdown if you improve your hand. i would also be calling down unimproved quite a bit based on the final board texture. (for example, if the board comes A2327, or AJ442, you will be good often enough to warrant calling all the way.)

one key against maniacs is certainly to punish them mightily when you have the goods, but you should also be looking to almost always showdown against them when you have a showdown-worthy hand. and in this situation, KTo is showdown-worthy.