Online Poker Table Image : ManiacThis is the second article
in a four part series of table image articles. Playing like a
maniac might seem easy at first, but it requires one to play with
extreme attention to detail. In this article, I will demonstrate
exactly what I do when I wish to be perceived as a maniac at any
given table. The most important thing to understand is that I lay
down many hands on the flop, sometimes even top pair/top kicker.
Indeed, you will definitely be laying down more hands after the flop
than you may currently think is necessary. The first step is
to simply raise a lot of hands pre-flop as soon as you sit down.
Sometimes I will get on the table and raise the first 5 hands three
times the big blind (3 x BB). You will notice that the table you are
at may become very loose after your raises. This is good. After
raising a lot, I will usually settle down and play tight poker until
I feel the time is right to raise again. Two things will happen
during the raising period: (1) You might hit your trash hand and
take someone all-in; (2) You will establish yourself as a loose
player. Playing like a maniac is fun but it can get you into a
lot of binds if you can't lay a hand down. I would advise playing
the role of a maniac in CASH GAMES ONLY. In a tournament it is much
easier to sit back and be patient. Tournaments are much more
profitable when played patient in the early rounds and aggressive in
the later rounds. Unless you are up against players you know well,
don't play like a maniac in a tournament.
Employing Maniac StrategyWhen you demonstrate to
the table that you are a maniac, you will start getting more calls
than you thought possible. This is both good and bad. Although your
bankroll will likely take bigger swings, you will be forcing players
to make incorrect assumptions about your play. And, if you are
consistently getting players to make the wrong calls based on your
play, you will profit in the long run. The key to maniac
strategy is laying down many hands if you hit the flop weakly.
Let me show you an example: -
After joining a table, I decide to raise the first 5 or 6 hands
to loosen the table up a little.
- On my
7th raise, I decide J9s looks pretty nice so I raise 3 x BB. A
guy with pocket aces in late position only CALLS because he
knows I am prone to raise anything.
- The
flop is J
 -9 -2 ,
perfect for the guy with aces. I bet big, he comes over the top,
and I laugh as I take him in. - Then he
complains, "Nice call pre-flop, idiot." I simply say, "Thanks,"
and shake my head at the new players who just don't understand
the method to my madness.
The point I am
trying to make is that in a No-Limit Hold'em cash game, when your
bankroll allows it, playing hands such as Q9s or J9s with the image
of a maniac can bring instant death to many fishy opponents. What
most people don't understand is that these hands, as well as pairs,
suited connectors, and A-x suited, will pull in the best pots of the
night. Let me show you one more example, this time
illustrating the fact that when you first join a table, occasionally
you will raise with trash and hit. This is a real hand that I
experienced a couple of days ago. -
I raise a really tight player's blinds with K-2.
I usually steal this guy's blinds but this time he calls my
raise of 3 x BB.
- The flop is 2-Q-2.
I throw out a huge bet on the flop to make it look as if I am
stealing.
- He comes over the top all-in
and I immediately call. I win another huge pot on a trash hand
that has almost no value pre-flop.
- As he
showed down his kings, I had to laugh. Of course he tells me,
"Horrible play," but we all know what is going on here: Although
I got really lucky on the flop, the idea is to put your money in
on a really good flop when you hit it.
Let me show you an example of a laydown: - I had A-K
and finally I get some callers, two to be exact.
- The
flop is A
 -4-5. -
I bet big on the flop and a guy re-raises me all-in. From what I
have observed, he has folded almost every hand. I have also seen
him show down kings and queens before.
- I think for a
second and then I fold. I throw the hand face-up on the table as
I say, "Nice hand, I had you on two-pair. Good luck." As I leave
the table, the guy approaches me and asks how I laid that hand
down when I had been raising everything. I never told him what I
am about to tell you: The real key to playing the role of a
maniac is to play nuts on the flop.
ALWAYS
play tight on the flop. If you only have a pair and see a guy put
you all-in, he most likely has you. Always err on the side of
folding rather than calling. In No-Limit cash games, the most money
is made when you put your money in on the nuts. Wait for the other
guy to make the mistake and then pounce on him. |
