I've just been at a table with the biggest maniac i've seen on the $100NL 6-max tables yet. He ran at around 80/55/2.5 for the session. He seemed to be betting and raising with anything - stone cold bluffs, mediocre hands, good hands. His bets could be very large too - he would often bet big on the river forcing people to fold.

Anyway, he was 2 seats to my right and I was wondering how people would approach the table with this guy on it. It seemed wrong to me to continue playing my usual game - I didn't see any value in raising with some of the hands I would usually raise with - especially as they may be re-raised by this guy. I tried to play hands that could hit big - like pairs, big suited cards - and I tried as much as possible to stick to having position on him. This did mean I was playing a lot tighter than normal, although I imagine this is necessary on this type of table. Some of the other player were [of courser] calling him down with some crap. I can see why, but surely going into check-call mode against this guy is mostly bad because he is capable of such big bets / bluffs that it makes it hard to call even with top pair good kicker.

Here a few hands I played against him. If you could give me your opinions on how I played them and if you would do anything different I'd really appreciate it.

Hand 1: This hand was fairly early on the table and, although I realised he was a little crazy, I didn't quite realise how crazy he was. If this hand had come up later I maybe would have played it differently, but I'm not 100% sure how. Possibly bet out on the turn. Or maybe call the turn bet looking to fill up (I think the implied odds are HUGE v this guy). If I did call, would you call a bet on the river?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
5 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $119.83
DODGYKEN: $100
Button: $206.25
SB: $97
BB: $105.30

Pre-flop: (5 players) DODGYKEN is CO with
UTG folds, DODGYKEN raises to $3.5, Button calls, 2 folds.

Flop: ($8.5, 2 players)
DODGYKEN bets $6, Button calls.

Turn: ($20.5, 2 players)
DODGYKEN checks, Button bets $14, DODGYKEN folds.
Uncalled bets: $14 returned to Button.

Results:
Final pot: $20.5

Hand 2: This is the hand where I managed to stack him - pretty standard but i wanted to include it as I think it has relevance later on.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $93.10
UTG+1: $388.38
CO: $110.60
Button: $198.30
SB: $114.34
DODGYKEN: $99

Pre-flop: (6 players) DODGYKEN is BB with
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $4, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, DODGYKEN raises to $20, UTG+1 calls, Button folds, SB calls.

Flop: ($64, 3 players)
SB checks, DODGYKEN is all-in $79, UTG+1 calls, SB folds.

Turn: ($222, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $222)


River: ($222, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $222)


Results:
Final pot: $222
DODGYKEN shows Ad Ac
UTG+1 shows 7h Kc



Hand 3: This hand I DEFINITELY played wrong. I'd been limping with pairs because he was raising most of the time and I wanted to see the flop cheaply to hit my set. I check-raised all-in here because of the hand above. He called me with K7 there - no pair, no draw - so I thought he might think an overbet from me was a bluff. I also thought he would call regardless if he had an Ace. In hindsight, I should have given him more rope to hang himself and made a smaller (though still sizeable) raise, allowing me to push the turn I think. How do you play this one? Would you then go and check-raise the turn?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
5 players


Stack sizes:
DODGYKEN: $211.50
CO: $368.73
Button: $233.25
SB: $204.20
BB: $96

Pre-flop: (5 players) DODGYKEN is UTG with
DODGYKEN calls, CO raises to $6, 3 folds, DODGYKEN calls.

Flop: ($13.5, 2 players)
DODGYKEN checks, CO bets $9, DODGYKEN raises all-in $205.5, CO folds.
Uncalled bets: $196.5 returned to DODGYKEN.

Results:
Final pot: $31.5


Hand 4: Last one! In this one I didn't want to re-raise pre-flop as the pre-flop raiser was 27/7/2.5. I thought that he probably had AA-TT or AK/Q. I wanted to keep the pot small and see what happened post-flop. When the flop came T high, I was pretty sure the maniac would bet, so I checked to him and then I could see what the other guy did in the middle of use. When he called I thought I could have the best hand, or he could be slowplaying TT or AA/KK. I decided to call and see what the action was like on the turn. The turn looked good for me again. I checked again to see what action happened. When the raiser called again I felt I was beat. I thought he probably had AA-QQ or maybe TT. What do you think of my play here on each street please. And how is my thinking behind it?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $290.23
UTG+1: $99
CO: $204.35
Button: $153.29
DODGYKEN: $99
BB: $46.45

Pre-flop: (6 players) DODGYKEN is SB with
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, CO raises to $5, Button folds, DODGYKEN calls, BB folds, UTG calls.

Flop: ($16, 3 players)
DODGYKEN checks, UTG bets $9, CO calls, DODGYKEN calls.

Turn: ($43, 3 players)
DODGYKEN checks, UTG bets $32, CO calls, DODGYKEN folds.

River: ($107, 2 players)
UTG bets $105, CO calls.

Results:
Final pot: $317


Sorry for such a long post but I find it tricky playing against guys like this. I'm sure other players must do too! I would really appreciate advice here because I feel that these situations should be very profitable and I know I could play them much better.


Martin

Another table with a maniac - I can pick them!

This guy is 77/23/2.3. He's just lost a huge $400 pot with QQ v AA pre-flop. The next hand was his SB, folded to him and he went all in for $110! This is the next hand after that:

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $164
UTG+1: $98.50
DODGYKEN: $108.85
Button: $111.57
SB: $413
BB: $107.35

Pre-flop: (6 players) DODGYKEN is CO with
2 folds, DODGYKEN raises to $3.5, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: ($11.5, 3 players)
SB checks, DODGYKEN bets $11, Button calls, SB calls.

Turn: ($44.5, 3 players)
SB checks, DODGYKEN checks, Button is all-in $97.07, SB folds



How do you play this? Do you bet the turn with the SB in there too?

Try to post only 1 or 2 hands, this many won't get as many responses.

#1 - Please don't make me hang myself from my bathroom ceiling - your folding a set of Kings on the turn to a small bet when there is 25% chance you are going to fill up and stack him. Please don't ever due that again.

#2 - Played it fine, pot is huge and that board is incredibly draw heavy. Also, it helps when you can re-raise to $20 pre-flop with Aces, shove the flop, and get check insta-called by K-7 - unfriggin' believeable.

#3 - That's the most un-scary board for a set possible - no straight draws (except 3-4, 4-5, and it's a raised pot). Against an overly aggressive donk, I'd lead the flop weak, like $10, and watch him raise with any Ace. Check-raising isn't a good play against an aggressive player in this spot becaues he isn't going to call massive check-raise here without A-Q or better. I also like check-calling the flop and leading the turn weak, because if he has A-Q or A-K he is gonna raise you on the turn when you lead into him (if he really is an aggressive player).

#4 - If you are gonna play it like that you are just spewing. Re-raise pre-flop, or lead the flop, or check-raise the flop. Your not going to make much money calling raises short-handed in the SB with J-J, then check-calling on flops where you have an over-pair where there are straight-draws and flush draws on the board. So many bad turn cards for you it is unbelievable, you have no idea if he has a legit hand or if he is just CBing A-K/A-Q. You have absolutely no clue if your hand is good, what you are up against, or how to play the hand. You just can't afford to play that passive with J-J in a short-handed game OOP.

#5 - You played it fine as long as you folded on the river. It's a legitimate play to bet $20-25 and shut down if you are called or raised, you don't want to let them draw to a club draw or with 7-6 for free. Either way is fine though - lead the turn after it's check and shut-down if you are called/raised, or just check-fold. Horrible turn card to get you to pay off J-!0 - $hit, at least the is obvious.

Too many hands, 2 for a post is ok.

Bad fold in the first hand, call turn and try to catch a boat.