Today was a great reminder session for me. Maniacs at your tables make for HUGE variance. Everytime I was in a pot with this guy, I was pretty much forced to call down with a-high, k-high, and any pair.

I cannot get any of the converters to work for AbsolutePoker so this isn't going to be pretty.

STAGE #211460129: HOLDEM NORMAL $0.50/$1 - 2005-10-24 14:45:17 (ET)
Table: CHINOOK AVE. (Real Money) Seat #1 is the dealer
Seat 1 - PERSON4 ($19.80 in chips)
Seat 2 - PERSON ($12.25 in chips)
Seat 3 - ESCAPEPLAN9 ($45.95 in chips)
Seat 4 - PERSON2 ($10 in chips)
Seat 5 - MANIAC ($12.85 in chips)
Seat 6 - PERSON3 ($52.80 in chips)
PERSON - Posts small blind $0.25
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Posts big blind $0.50
PERSON2 - Posts $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to ESCAPEPLAN9 [Js Ac]
PERSON2 - Raises $0.50 to $1
MANIAC - Raises $1.50 to $1.50
PERSON3 - Folds
PERSON4 - Folds
PERSON - Calls $1.25
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Calls $1
PERSON2 - Calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [8c 5h 7c]
PERSON - Checks
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Checks
PERSON2 - Checks
MANIAC - Bets $0.50
PERSON - Folds
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Calls $0.50
PERSON2 - Calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [8c 5h 7c]
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Checks
PERSON2 - Checks
MANIAC - Bets $1
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Calls $1
PERSON2 - Folds
*** RIVER *** [8c 5h 7c 6d] [10h]
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Checks
MANIAC - Bets $1
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MANIAC - Shows [10c 3c] (One pair, tens)
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Mucks
MANIAC Collects $10.95 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($11.50) | Rake ($0.55)
Board [8c 5h 7c 6d 10h]

Usually I'm folding AJo in the BB to a bet-raise, even on 6-max. But here I knew maniac was the 3-better. That lucky bastard! He 3-bets T3s, bets and bets his flush draw to the river, and then pairs up.

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STAGE #211465477: HOLDEM NORMAL $0.50/$1 - 2005-10-24 14:56:19 (ET)
Table: CHINOOK AVE. (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 3 - ESCAPEPLAN9 ($37.15 in chips)
Seat 4 - PERSON ($8.35 in chips)
Seat 5 - MANIAC ($17.70 in chips)
Seat 6 - PERSON ($42.15 in chips)
Seat 7 - PERSONP ($10 in chips)
Seat 2 - PERSON ($46 in chips)
PERSON - Posts small blind $0.25
MANIAC - Posts big blind $0.50
PERSON - sitout (wait for BB)
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to ESCAPEPLAN9 [Ac Jh]
PERSON - Folds
PERSON - Folds
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Raises $1 to $1
PERSON - Folds
MANIAC - Calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [7d 7s 6s]
MANIAC - Checks
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Bets $0.50
MANIAC - Raises $1 to $1
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [7d 7s 6s]
MANIAC - Checks
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Bets $1
MANIAC - Raises $2 to $2
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Raises $2 to $3
MANIAC - Calls $1
*** RIVER *** [7d 7s 6s Kc]
MANIAC - Checks
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MANIAC - Shows [9c 8d] (One pair, sevens)
ESCAPEPLAN9 - Shows [Ac Jh] (One pair, sevens)
ESCAPEPLAN9 Collects $9.75 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($10.25) | Rake ($0.50)
Board [7d 7s 6s Kc Qh]

I was really getting tired of his C/R semi-bluffs. This guys stack was fluctuating like crazy on the two tables we both were on. He managed to suck out enough times to not go broke.

What I meant to say is that even had he not looked at his whole cards, he is still a big favorite to have AJ beat.

True dat! So I should have folded on the turn, definitely.

Ding ding ding.

Escapeplan:

On hand 2, I think the turn 3-bet with A high is spewing.. I understand he will semi-bluff raise here alot, but you only have Ace-high. I am all for taking this to showdown, but I am not giving the maniac action without a hand.

--Fred