Poker News

Tom ‘Time’ Leonard

Instead of attempting to identify a possible leak in our game for which we could then formulate a goal to eradicate, today let’s discuss an event that dramatically changes the dynamics of the game. Playing with a maniac. Recently I was sitting in a game in a card room which I don’t normally frequent so I didn’t know the players well.As a new player arrived to take his seat, the player to my right leaned over and whispered, “Fasten your seat belt, this guy is a real maniac”. Well, knowledge is power and I learned something about the new player as well as the informant for free. It didn’t take long for my new friend’s opinion to be confirmed. The new player sat down in front of the big blind and instead of sitting out a hand to take the big blind or several hands to come in behind the button, he immediately posted a live straddle I fastened my seat belt and silently hoped to make him pay for his indiscretion immediately.

Unfortunately I had the opportunity to muck a 7-2 offsuit but still thought there will be profit to be made with our new “gambler” There is no question that maniacs can really make your bankroll fluctuate but I think they are literally ATM’s to the players who recognize what adjustments to make.

Maniacs are real gamblers as evidenced by posting straddles and raising or re-raising at every opportunity. Pure action junkies, who seem to have a bankroll death wish Of course, they have experienced the huge upward swings that they have created with their actions but most likely are in complete denial about how they normally wind up… broke! When one of these MRM’s (Macho Rambo Maniacs) joins your game and the chips start flying there are several things you should do to get your piece of the action. First, it would be nice to be sitting to his left to be better able to trap him but that’s not critical. The single most important thing to do is to tighten up and play aggressively with premium hands.

Aggressively because he won’t fold, number one, but also you want to try and isolate him and not have another player hit a good draw and drag down the pot. Make it expensive, again with premium hands, for other players to be involved.

As you fight fire with fire and begin raising back to isolate the maniac your starting hand requirements should change dramatically. Pairs and over cards should go way up in value while drawing hands should decrease. As an example, middle suited connectors aren’t what you’re looking for as they play best in unraised multi-way pots. Pairs, such as 8-8 can possibly, depending upon your position, be three bet in an effort to isolate the maniac. Many times when you begin to challenge a maniac, the rest of the table runs for cover and really begins to tighten up. Knowing this can help you to get out of another player’s way when all of a sudden a normally passive player throws in a raise as well.

Expect a dramatic increase to your bankroll fluctuation in an environment in which a maniac is at play. Your best defense is also your best offense and is our goal for today When you’re in a game dominated by a maniac, tighten up significantly and try and trap him for multiple bets. Avoid drawing hands that can cost a small fortune to pursue in that kind of raise crazy game. This is an environment in which your discipline will really pay off. Before long you’ll be welcoming maniacs instead of fearing them. See you next “TIME”.

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