Fixed Limit Poker,
Betting Strategy
May 30 2008
Playing against a maniac is something that few lower-limit players know how to do properly. A maniac is a player who raises almost every bet and plays just about every hand that is dealt. They seem like they’re just dumping money to everyone, until they hit a hand and make it all back. They change the dynamic of any game, and you must either adjust or get off the table. The presence of the maniac increases the size of the win/loss swings every player at the table will experience. If they have a good run of hands, they will get lots of action and win huge pot after pot.
The one thing about a maniac is that you can count on them raising the next bet. So you need to get into hands against this player with good cards. The maniac will play anything and hope to hit, or force you off the hand with aggression. So it’s best to play the maniac tight until you get a premium hand. Once that hand comes, you want to isolate the maniac so you are heads up. That will increase your odds against the maniac because fewer players will be in there to hit the flop. When the maniac raises it up pre-flop, you can reraise; most times that will be all you have to do to get heads up with him.
Depending on the cards on the flop, you can continue to use his aggression against him. If you have position he will often bet into you. If you think you have the best hand and the board isn’t too threatening to your hand, you can continue to call down bets until the river, where raising will often cause the maniac to either fold or pay you off. Most times they have missed and won’t react well to late raises. After stinging him a few times he’ll start to stay away from your aggression, or he’ll be winning so many other hands at the table he won’t even notice the pots you’re taking off him.
Learn more about
observing your opponent in the Bodog Poker Guide.
