5 Card Draw Maniac

[Biggle10]

Maybe this is more of a poker theory question but...
The other night I had a bonafide maniac 2 to my right while playing 5CD (raise any pair or 2 paint if he was the first in). He didn't make many loose calls, but he bluffed a lot when checked to. Since my opponent is raising light let's say I have a marginal hand like QQ. Should I 3-bet it or flat call and induce a bluff after the draw? There's usually not a lot of maniacs playing draw so I was at a loss at what to do.

[BadPenguin]

I think you have to 3-bet it. If he's open-raising with that kind of garbage then with QQ you're going to have a better hand than he has the great majority of the time. If you 3-bet you have a better chance of getting it heads-up against him with you having the edge. Of course, some of the time he's going to have trips or aces-up or something (even maniacs get real cards now and then) and you're going to feel like a dork for reraising with a pair of queens, but if he's that loose a raiser I think you're going to come out ahead in the end.

as a general rule ... Isolate the maniacs ... so with QQ 3 bet
if someone comes in behind, they either picked up what you are doing(and have AA or KK for a call) or they have at least 2 pair. As for not seeing many draw maniacs online, I have no idea what you are talking about, they are everywhere.

[SoCalPat]

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As for not seeing many draw maniacs online, I have no idea what you are talking about, they are everywhere.

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No doubt. My favorite was the player from whom I took $80 from in 15 minutes playing 1/2 heads-up at Paradise. Finally, after I won with a pair of 6s, he left, saying something in the chat bar about "you're too good for me."

Favorite heads-up/maniac move: Smooth calling his raise in the blinds with 2 pair predraw, drawing one and betting out after the draw when they draw 3. Too often (and they rarely realize what you're doing until it's too late), they think you're on the draw and bluffing. But even if they improve to a better hand (trips to your aces up, for example), they won't raise because they fear you've made a pat hand. Maniacs shrivel in the face of controlled aggression.

Sorry for the thread hijack. Carry on.

[stripsqueez]

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Favorite heads-up/maniac move: Smooth calling his raise in the blinds with 2 pair predraw, drawing one and betting out after the draw when they draw 3. Too often (and they rarely realize what you're doing until it's too late), they think you're on the draw and bluffing. But even if they improve to a better hand (trips to your aces up, for example), they won't raise because they fear you've made a pat hand. Maniacs shrivel in the face of controlled aggression.

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i normally get guys who are too passive heads up not maniacs

i guess a maniac probably wont notice but a decent player might observe that you struggle to disguise this position - not that i have an issue with say playing a missed draw this way but i'm not sure i need fancy against a maniac heads up

i agree that some aggro against a maniac is a good plan and i respect this line as an option but i pretty much never find it

stripsqueez - chickenhawk

In Limit poker it is not easy to isolate someone - sometimes the marginal hands you play against a maniac you eventualy lose to a legit third party.
I think the way to handle it is position instead - specially in 5-draw. Whenever you act after the maniac you have a strong advantage and you can profit - folding or re-raising. Leave one guy between you and him and take all his money on the long run. Leave and re-join the table if possible to take a better seat.

This is also valid in Pot Limit - but it is easier to isolate or get out when another player shows he is strong and willing to chase the maniac.

[TheShootah]

Yeah, I would three bet. Or maybe every once in a while, call then check raise if you improve after the draw.

[stripsqueez]

i dunno about the pre-draw slowplay to get the big bet in - not just this hand but generally - i have more or less done without it to date - if i was going to try the pre-draw slowplay i would prefer to have a rock

i would 3 bet - this would be getting close to a fold though with say 3 guys behind me (probably anxious to call) and no prospect of stealing the blinds

stripsqueez - chickenhawk