I'm a recent successful small stakes $1-$2 NL player who just started $2-$5 NL This recently happened and makes zero sense to me and has boggled and haunted my mind since it happened a few days ago. I need some input.

2-5 NL Very loose game
UTG straddles $10
I'm in late position playing with about $950 and raise to $30 with KK
Maniac to my left has $900 and re-raises to $80
Straddler calls $80
Based on the loose table I feel 90% sure I have best hand and bump it up to $300
Maniac calls, straddler folds.
NOW THIS iS WHERE THINGS GET CRAZY
I am first to act when the flop comes but maniac goes all-in blind before seeing the flop.
Flop is A-10-5
I was told from the dealer that if I check then his all-in is binding, but if I bet then he can do whatever. I thought about my options and maybe made a bad choice. I bet $5 hoping he would change his mind about his all-in. He simply raised all-in when I bet. So now I think about what this guy has. I end up putting him on QQ or JJ. I called him. He immediately slumps down and I knew I caught him. Board ran out A 2 for a board of A-10-5-A-2. The guy jumps up and slams down his cards which were 22. He hit a 2 outer on me for a pot of $1,880.


His wreckless play was a little transparent and my read was correct, however I'm sure I made some mistakes throughout the hand and I'm curious what others think of this. Any pointers are much appreciated. Thanks to all readers!

Fold river, looks like he has 22.

I can't tell if you're trying to level, trying to be stupid, or trying to ask a real question, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

The pre flop 4bet was solid based on the description of the player that was in the hand.
You want to get value from your hand, and it looks like you did. Some people here will say things about the sizing, but we got exactly what we wanted, heads up with the maniac with a very strong hand.

On the flop, you should certainly let him ship it blind, and you should never allow him to change his action. If you bet anything at all, it allows him to play his hand based on what happens on the board, and we rather have him betting with less information. When he shoves blind it does not allow him to have the same information that you do. So, check, let him shove blind and play accordingly.

Call on the shove seems reasonable, as you said that he's a maniac, and he could have a wide range of hands here. We have an SPR of 1. And while there is an Ace on the flop, if you think that he's a maniac he can shove with worse. (Obviously, since he did it blind, he can shove with his entire 4bet calling range. Which can be just about anything for a maniac.)

Ok. Maybe I don't know as much as you guys but I have had constant success playing. I guess I should have folded. His range was obviously extremely large but I had him on these possible hands, 88-AA or AK. I ruled out AA, and 1010 would have just been bad luck. AK is how I thought I would lose if my read was wrong. Sorry for my stupidity but I'm new to posting and am I guess relatively new to higher stakes poker. And yes I'm aware 2-5 is still low stakes to most of you. I was just looking for some advice and input on this specific hand. Thanks to all readers

Why in the world would you bet $5 on the flop? You change the action and take away the chance that this fish will put his final $600 in the pot? Your bet also, obviously, looks very weak, so he ships, which is the same as letting him ship blind.

My friend you played it fine it's just variance. Are you rolled for 2/5?

BBV is

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that way.

Locked.