How to play shorthanded NL with maniacs?
I was at a recent 6-player NL cash game where my opponents would make the likes of Cory, Brent, and even Happy look like, well..., me. I guess you could classify these guys as action junkies. As an example, one hand where I was BB, UTG put on a blind straddle, next guy re-straddles, 3rd guy re-re-straddles and the button went all-in blind for about 75xBB. That should give you an idea of the type of play you could expect at random intervals.
Lots of questions:
- what kind of hand do you need to call 75xBB blind all-in? (assume this is at least 75% of your stack)
- how much do you buy in for initially in terms of BB? (I didn't know these guys very well, min was 25xBB, max was 150xBB)
- what kind of hands are worth playing from what position?
- how do you play against a straddle from the blinds or late position?
- what are some of the major pointers when playing in this kind of game?
I realize these are kind of general but I haven't seen much written on the subject. I have read Sklanksy's new NL book, and believe me, it more than paid for itself that night. I'm curious to hear what others with experience in these situations have learned.
It was a decent night for me. One guy would always straddle my BB and always raise significantly on his option. He did this once when I had QQ and I pushed back and he folded. I said something about maybe that would discourage him from straddling the next time. Of course not but then the next time I had AA and busted him. I think those 2 hands represented the majority of my profit from the session. Maybe you only need a couple of big hands in a session like this?
I don't know what to think about this session but overall, it was definitely fun! Sort of like the rollercoaster at Marineland...
Lots of questions:
- what kind of hand do you need to call 75xBB blind all-in? (assume this is at least 75% of your stack)
- how much do you buy in for initially in terms of BB? (I didn't know these guys very well, min was 25xBB, max was 150xBB)
- what kind of hands are worth playing from what position?
- how do you play against a straddle from the blinds or late position?
- what are some of the major pointers when playing in this kind of game?
I realize these are kind of general but I haven't seen much written on the subject. I have read Sklanksy's new NL book, and believe me, it more than paid for itself that night. I'm curious to hear what others with experience in these situations have learned.
It was a decent night for me. One guy would always straddle my BB and always raise significantly on his option. He did this once when I had QQ and I pushed back and he folded. I said something about maybe that would discourage him from straddling the next time. Of course not but then the next time I had AA and busted him. I think those 2 hands represented the majority of my profit from the session. Maybe you only need a couple of big hands in a session like this?
I don't know what to think about this session but overall, it was definitely fun! Sort of like the rollercoaster at Marineland...
Comments
me
You and Joe sure are complainers when you find easy money.
But what to I know, I play in an effing stable all day. More donk than all ins with 3h5h. (Flintbones will remember that brutal hand.)
Slowplaying isn't really worth it, just ram and jam. Overbet pots, forget shaving odds where you JUST take away their odds... flush draw out there? Pot's $10? Bet $15. Gutshot out there? $100 in the pot? Put him all in.
Sounds like the pre-flop action is where it was at.. your strength would lie in the post-flop play. Call with solid quality hands - high pocket pairs, if it's not obscene even mid-low pocket pairs because I think the implied odds are pretty good. Suited connectors are okay, if you have position, and "premium" hands like A-Q, A-K become calling hands when out of position.
Just my opinion.
Mark
Maybe 'maniacs' is too strong from some of the players. A few did notice I had been playing tight (too tight, I fear) and changed their game when I was in the pot. Example: One hand, the river completed the gutshot to put a low straight on the board. There was about 20xBB in the pot with 4 of us in the hand. I lead out with a 5xBB bet just to prevent one of them from putting in a huge bet and chasing everyone out. Every one of them folded, sure I had caught a higher straight (no, not even close...) since I had bet into them. I showed them my hand after that, hoping to get a little more action on future hands.
Grrrrrrrrrrr.
Cheers
Magi