Tangling with Maniacs in Poker
When the table maniac takes down big pots after big pot with less than marginal hands, it is easy to fall into the trap of calling them down with garbage. Small suited connectors and low pairs seem so attractive when encountering a maniac. Unfortunately, hands such as those do not always offer you the proper odds to go one on one with the maniac. When you start calling with marginal hands preflop, the maniac continues to bash you with bet upon bet on the flop, which causes a correct fold. Instead of calling the maniac down with marginal hands, a better choice is to take the fight back to the maniac by tangling with him prior to the flop.
Counterattacking the Maniac Preflop
Maniacs on PokerStar enjoy taking control of the hand from the beginning until the end. When you reraise a maniac before the flop, the wild poker player loses control. The maniac does not wish to fight. He simply wishes to exercise control and take down several pots. If planning to regularly tangle with a maniac, be certain to take it at him preflop and follow through from the flop on. By playing hard back at him, you take the maniac out of his comfort zone.
Trapping the Maniac
Slow playing your monsters against loose players can turn a handsome profit when done correctly and at the appropriate time. If you are in position against a maniac, let him raise and just call. You want to give him the feeling he is in control. When the time is right, spring the trap and let the momentum of the maniac’s aggression trip him up and send him flying right on by.
Whether trapping or playing back at the maniac on Poker Star, it is important to take their control away. Maniacs love to be in control. By taking their control away, you take the fight to the maniac in the most profitable and efficient way.