How To Play A Poker Maniac

[Kramer]

With Daniel Negreanu :

Of all the emails I get , the one question most often asked is how do I deal with a maniac playing every hand ?

Well before I can answer that question properly I need some more information on the TYPE of maniac you are dealing with.

Not all maniacs are crated equal. Each has their own tendancies.Some may play poorly while others may have excellent instincts and card reading skills .

The easiest maniac to defend against is the habitual bluffer who is a lifelong LOSER .
Here's a few basic tips to consider :

Isolate him - When he raises , reraise with any good hand enough to see the flop with.
He will be raising with hands like k-4 so when you pick up a hand like
A-J go ahead and go against him.
Know your head to head pre flop odds.

Don't give him any credit - A leapord can't change his spots , and a habitual bluffer can't resist the temptation to bluff even in the most obvious situations.When you have a hand with a 50/50 chance of winning in a
showdown you MUST play it. Otherwise you aren't gambling.

Let him bluff off his money. When you are dealt a strong hand
against this type of player , set a trap for him by slow playing your hand. He'll almost always go for the bait when you check to him because he thinks he can steal the pot from you. So set the hook and reel in the chips.

The more difficult opponent isn't a maniac at all. He just fools you into beleiving that he is a crazy wild man. He is crazy all right , like a fox .
In reality he is an excellent reader of cards and people.These poker skills allow him to play more hands than a beginner or medium player .

Battling this tyype of player can be tricky . Consider these tips when seated at the table with a sly fox that seems to be dominating the game :

Don't be fooled by his starting hand selection. He'll often try to disguise his skill level by revealing a trash hand in a situation most would never dream of playing. He may reraise from the big bling with a 7-2.
Some players may incorrectly jump the gun and conclude this player is a fool who has no idea what he is doing .Be careful .

Never judge a players skill level based on his play before the flop .

Beware of false advertising :
Early in the game this player will often reveal a monster bluff he was able to win.
Its very important to understand he is doing this for a reason .
He isn't showing off.

More often than not he will show an early bluff to train his opponents to consistantly pay him off when he gets strong hands later in the game
and forces you to just call him o see if he is bluffing reducing your chip size .

He has no plan to bluff the rest of the night.

After one or two bluffs chances are he will not bluff again.

And don't call just for the sake of calling.
If you think you're beat after the flop , chances are you have been beaten.

No need to waste chips just to see , how many times has this happened to you ?

[xxxFTWxxx]

Could be summed up in two words.

"Trap them"

[cman]

nice read Daniel is probably my favorite player on the tour

wde

[Seanie Mac]

im so reckless yet tight. im such a dangerous player lol. i love it casinos, they throw fits. remember its just money and you are here to gamble. i flip over 5h-7h, 2 hands later flip over A-A. its great

[PigSkinTerror13]

good advice... smart to trap the reckless player