Had a session sitting right to a VPIP 80+ maniac last night. Slow played two similar hands pre, both ended up great but when I look back from retrospect, not sure if it was just good luck or the deviation is justifiable.

Table dynamic: 2~3 hours into a 1/2 game, maniac has reloaded a few times with 200, shown raise to 12 with 72o and 3 bet with 2x. Bluffed couple sizeable pot. Two players to his left apparently adjusted and started 3bt him lighter than usual. Rest of table seems annoyed but no sign of (correct) adjustment observed yet.

Hand 1:
V is at BB with ~130 (just lost a pot), UTG+1 (LAG against V, TAGish against rest, eff ~430) limp, two more limps before H at SB, H decided to limp with JJ as a trap to under present hand strength, expecting V to raise big most of time. V did raise to 17, UTG+1 call, others fold, H pushed AI, V tank call, UTG+1 fold. JJ stands.

I’m not sure if this move is too risky, but at the time I was planning to check call JJ at almost flop and turn, if BB didn’t raise. Limping JJ may lose some EV pre, but as a bluff catcher on most board (1 high card), JJ should perform well to make up the lost? Also UTG+1 shouldn’t have QQ+ in his flat range, so AI with JJ is safe with this depth?

Hand 2:
V is at UTG and straddle to 5 (stack ~70), UTG+2 (same LAG from last hand, eff ~600) is also Btn raise to 20, H at BB flat with QQ, V 3bet to 40, btn call, H AI, V call and btn fold. QQ hold up in the run down.

Similar strategy as previous hand, as I don’t think V noted my out of line play yet (he was rambling about my nitness and how I only played one hand in hours etc after previous hand, but didn’t mention how I limp JJ from SB). This hand I feel more justifiable than previous one, as the straddle made effective depth shallower and my hand strength is stronger. However, given V’s super shallow stack, is it a better move to flat his 3 bet pre and try to get more value from btn post flop? Pretty sure V will shove any flop, and btn will not fold given the remaining bet size of V’s shove (~30 into pot size 120+). However, it will be very likely to see showdown 3 ways so maybe getting btn to fold his EV is not a bad result? I won’t have position post flop, but don’t think it matters too much as we will only play side pot and people usually play more straight forward in such situation anyway.

NHs; WP.

Seriously, being to the right of a maniac and able to trap like this is so very valuable. You not only get to isolate, you also get to see everyone else's responses to the maniac before you do.

Garrick you rather be to the right of him than be on his left and have position every hand?

I think you trusted your read n it worked out well. WP


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Yes. Position is great because of the information you get before you have to decide what to do. When playing a maniac, you already know what he's going to do (bet relentlessly). While having position on him is good, having relative position on everyone else is much better.

Having been at that table and seen the player in question playing, I think you played it perfectly. Couple of great spots.

the classic limp raise... if you have a good understanding of table dynamic which it sounds like you do and you can justify your reasoning then go for it . exploit their tendencies

I agree with everyone here. Great way to recognize the advantages you had relative position on V and then exploit them. Well played.


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