Learn Texas Holdem

A sight that makes new Texas Hold'em players groan, but has many experienced ones licking their lips, is the presence of a "maniac" at the table. A maniac is a loose-aggressive player who seems to be putting maximum pressure on every pot. He will frequently make a big pre-flop raise after a number of players have limped in, and seems to pounce on any sign of weakness, taking nearly every "check" as an exhortation for him to bet. How can you play against this kind of monster?

Identifying the Maniac in Texas Hold'em

First, you should observe the table for a while to make sure you are really up against a maniac. It's possible to be a loose-aggressive player without being a complete maniac. For example, a player like Daniel Negreanu likes to see many flops and isn't afraid to put chips in the pot, but will often back down if he doesn't hit the flop and senses strength in an opponent. The true maniac is in there firing chips on almost every hand he plays, which is most of them. You'll also want to determine whether this player is always this aggressive or is just getting a run of good hands. Players do sometimes get five or even ten strong hands in a row, and this may be a player who just plays his good hands strongly, rather than a table bully.

Playing Against the Maniac in Texas Hold'em

Once you've found your maniac, the question is how to play them. Many new players fear the maniac because they feel this player will constantly put their entire stack at risk, giving them few options. However, what the maniac is really doing is giving you multiple opportunities to win their stack. The safest way to play against a maniac is to stay out of their way until you get a premium hand. Once you do get one, don't raise with it and warn the maniac of danger. If you act timid, checking and reluctantly calling, the maniac will often bluff off their entire stack to you. It's true that sometimes the maniac will be betting with a real hand, which is the great danger. However, as a winning Texas hold'em player you must accept this. If you're in a no-limit cash game, you should have a couple of buy-ins in reserve for that one time you tangle with the maniac and he hits his hand or happens to have one. If you are playing tight, it will be much more common that you will have the best of it, and you'll win that money back and more.

Being a Maniac in Texas Hold'em

If you have a lot of chips in front of you, it doesn't always hurt to play up your own maniacal image. Spend a few rounds attacking the majority of the pots. You may find that scared opponents back down and let you win them, building your stack and your confidence. If they stand up to you, you can switch gears, tighten up again and be confident that you'll be getting action when that next monster hand arrives.