Exploiting Maniac Games

My previous articles discussed exploiting individual Maniacs, Rocks, and Calling Stations. Now we’ll cover games with several Maniacs.

Individual Maniacs will frustrate with bluffs and terrible beats. When the table has many Maniacs, you’ll be much more frustrated.

You may think Maniac Games are great because the pots are huge. Mason Malmuth disagrees: “Games with big pots are sometimes extremely lousy.”

1. There is so much raising that, “you need to be more selective about your starting hands, which implies you won’t get as many opportunities to outplay your opponents on later rounds.”

2. Because the pots become huge, bad plays become correct or almost correct. Loose players get the odds to chase with weak cards.

3. There is so much bluffing that you’re forced to call too often. (Poker Essays, pp. 114f)

Ask yourself a personal question.

Are Maniac Games Right for YOU?

To fully exploit other players’ emotions you must control your own feelings. It’s exceptionally difficult in Maniac Games. The action is exciting, and the pots are huge. The players are much harder to read, and the swings are enormous. You’ll win giant pots with mediocre hands, and your pocket aces and flopped sets will lose to terrible draws.
The excitement and frustration can make you gamble foolishly. Bad beats or large losses can easily put you on tilt and cause huge losses. If you forget the rest of this column, remember this point: ”Craziness Is Contagious.”

Two or three Maniacs can put some other players on tilt. If you’re vulnerable to that craziness, if your emotions affect your play, go home!

If you suspect that you’re becoming too emotional, take a break. You don’t want to miss the excitement, which is exactly why you need a break. If you feel your heart pumping and hate the thought of even a brief break, beware. You’re catching that contagious craziness.

If you decide to stay, recognize that some other players may go crazy. The game can become so wild that you can’t play the same old way. You must work hard to read your opponents and adjust your strategy.

Many Players’ Styles Have Changed

Maniac Games can cause two extremely different reactions: gambling wildly and playing scared.

Some normally conservative players will aggressively play hands they would usually fold. Some loose players will become weak-tight. A few people will bounce back and forth from one extreme to the other. One minute they’re gambling wildly; the next they’re too timid.

Don’t assume that you can read and play well against familiar players. Perhaps their play remains the same, but you can’t be sure. Study their play, decide whether and how they have changed, and adjust your reads and strategy to fit the way they’re playing now.

Don’t Focus Only On the Maniacs

If you do, the others can quietly take your money. Constantly shift your focus back and forth from the Maniacs to the others, especially the naturally tight players and the ones who are playing scared. Since they have temporarily overcome their fears, expect them to have stronger hands than usual.

Revise Your Game Plan

Adjust both your overall strategy and your play against specific players. Perhaps you should bluff Joe more frequently and invite Barbara to bluff.

Carefully Select Your Seat

Choosing a seat is always important, and it’s particularly important in Maniac Games. If you’re stuck in a bad seat, it’s another reason to quit. The best seat is usually behind the Maniacs; the worst is between them. Study the action and seating arrangements, and try to change to a better seat. Never change seats to “change your luck.”

Become MUCH More Conservative

You may want to play more aggressively, but it’s an emotionally-based mistake. Because it costs so much to play a hand, become very conservative.

You can afford to be much tighter because the stakes have essentially been raised, but the blinds remain the same. Remember that point every time you get tired of folding.

Slow-Play More Often

These games are ideal for slow-playing because so many pots are raised, and Maniacs will get much more action than you will. If you have kings or aces in early position, limp. Somebody will usually raise.

If you flop a great hand, don’t raise until the turn or river. Let the Maniacs do the raising. Dan Harrington called this strategy, “The Rope-a-Dope.” Muhammad Ali exhausted George Foreman by covering up and letting him make many ineffective punches.

Check-Raise More Often

The danger that everyone will check is greatly reduced, which makes check-raising less risky and more profitable. It’s particularly valuable because the pots get so big that winning the pot is often more important than trying to increase it. A check-raise is much more likely to knock out players than a single bet.

Bet or Raise With Good Draws

Because the pots grow so quickly, the pot odds often justify aggressive play. If you would call, you should often bet or a raise.

You will probably get two or three callers, giving you good odds. You may also get a free card because many players “check to the raiser.” Tight players check from timidity, and aggressive ones want to check-raise.

Reduce Bluffing

Because the pots get so big and people want to gamble, somebody will usually call you. You certainly don’t need to advertise to get action.

Minimize Deception and Fancy Plays

They’ll go right over most players’ heads because they are too busy slugging it out. Making fancy moves can distract you and cause mistakes. Keep your strategy simple, and emphasize the basics.

Hesitate and Look Left.

Because they’re excited, some players will telegraph their intentions. They will pick up chips, be ready to fold, or stare disgustedly at their cards. A few will bet or fold out of turn!

Unfortunately, your own excitement may make you miss obvious signals. So briefly pause and look left.

Call on the River Unless You’re Sure You’re Beaten

The pots are so big that you are getting good odds. One good call will more than cover the cost of several bad ones. Losing a bet is annoying, but losing a pot by folding a winner can be a financial and emotional catastrophe.

“Crying Calls” in big pots have been called “Peace of Mind Calls.” If you fold a winner, you could become so upset that you lose more money by mentally replaying the hand: “How could I have been so stupid? …” While replaying it, you may make other, even worse, mistakes. You may even go on tilt.

Conclusions

Maniac Games are exciting, but extremely frustrating. If you can’t stay calm and disciplined, avoid them.

If you can keep your head straight while your opponents are playing crazily, these games are gold mines.

The player to analyze most carefully is yourself. ♠

Dr. Al” ([email protected]) coaches only on psychology issues. For information about seminars and webinars, go to propokerseminars.com. He is David Sklansky’s co-author of DUCY? and the sole author of four poker psychology books. Please visit my website, Dr-Al-Schoonmaker.net. You can check out many articles, blogs, videos, and books. Please visit my website, AlanSchoonmaker.com and get a free book. Visit www.alanschoonmaker.com for access to his 14 books, 200+ articles, videos and podcasts.