Still have NOT figured out how to play profitably against a maniac. Let's take a look at a series of hands tonight vs a certifiable (72/44/25). He had frequently gone all-in after the flop and the only reason his WTSD wasn't higher was because everyone folded. Yet, he was still showing a profit as most nutcases do in my database.
Hand 1 -
[Kc] OTB - 7 handed
BB - $50.75 (only his 3rd hand)
ME - $46.90
I open for $2, BB calls
[3c][6d] Pot $4.25
BB checks, I bet $3.50, BB raises to $9.50, I re-raise to $25, BB calls
Next 2 cards
[9s] and it gets checked down. BB has
[7s]
OK - make a note that he can't fold top pair (7) vs preflop and flop aggression.
Total:
-$27
Hand 2 -
[Ac] MP1 - 8 handed
ME - $50
CO - $92.55 (72/44/25 - now I know he's nuts)
I open-limp, he raises to $2.25, all else fold, I re-raise to $7.50, he calls.
[5d][8h] Pot $15.75
I bet $10, he pushes for $85.05, I insta-call. He shows
[4c] and whiffs.
I finally found a hand I could beat a nutcase with.
Total:
+$20.75
Hand 3 -
[Qh] CO
SB - $108.15 (33/10/25)
BB - $56.50 (72/44/25 - still nuts)
ME - $91.25
Folded to me. I can't limp here. I raise to $2 and hope to flop top pair because I know I'm gonna end up playing for my stack.
SB calls, BB re-raises to $8, I call, SB calls.
[Ah][3h] Pot $24
SB checks, BB bets $10, I have to fold
Total:
+$12.75
Hand 4 -
[Qc] UTG+2 - 9 handed
Me - $81.75
MP1 - $21.75 (55/8/26)
CO - $70.45 (72/44/25 - insanity has helped him grow his stack again)
SB - $46.25 (18/3/10 - rockish over 1K+ hands)
I open-limp, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, CO raises to $3.25, SB calls, I call (I thought about pushing here, but with such a big stack I wanted to catch first since I knew he'd still play if I caught an Ace. Right now he's ahead of me with any pocket pair.), MP1 calls, MP2 folds
[As][6c] Pot $14
SB checks, I'm doing jumping jacks and check (I figure it would be just my luck if SB check-raised him with a set), MP1 checks, CO bets $7.50, SB folds, I just call planning on c/r'ing all-in on the turn, MP1 pushes for $18.50, CO folds
MP1 has a set
[6c]. Seems about right. Get your VP$IP up over 50 and you'll be fine.
Total:
-$9 in 4 run-ins vs the maniac w/ AK, AA, KQ, and AQ.
On a more solid note, I continue to slaughter the tight players.
So now, just for August so far, players with over 40% VP$IP and 50+ hands:
9 Winners - 5 Losers
Entire $50 FR Database over 29.9K hands, only those with 90+ hands:
20 Winners - 10 Losers
Somebody please explain this to me because I've been looking for an answer to this phenomenon for months and can't figure it out.
Also interesing, after close to 30K hands, the hands that have been more profitable (in terms of avg and BB/hand) than AKo include: K7s, 55, T9s, 96s, T7s, T3s, J8s, KJs, A6s, ATo, A3s, 66, A9s, K9s, A7s, 97s, and of course some medium to large PP's.
Strangely enough 97s is my 2nd most profitable hand next to AA.
In terms of net profit: AA, JJ, 97s, 88, KK, QQ, TT, ATo, 77, A7s, 99, AKs, and 66 are all better than AKo.