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Maniac
In poker, most players can be separated into four categories characterizing their style of play. Each style is described as a combination of the starting hands the player chooses to play, and the way the player bets these hands.
"Tight" and "Loose" describe the choice in starting hands. "Passive" and "Aggressive" describe the betting pattern. Some times playing poker, you'll run into a player willing to play anything anytime and at any cost. A player so irrational you'd think he or she was drunk or suicidal. Raises are flying practically every hand, and this player has no problem moving all-in for no other apparent reason than to steal the blinds – regardless of how small they might be. Such a player is called a "Maniac" – a style of play guaranteed to lead only one way and that's to bankruptcy. Basically there are only two possible explanations for true maniacal play. Either the player is on massive tilt, or someone's been smoking something highly illegal. It's "raise-and-pray" poker. Pure gambling with no interest in stupid things like probabilities and winning chances. It's all about bullying people around and taking huge adrenalin inducing risks. In no time this player will have either scared everyone away or have pushed all-in with another poor hand and lost the entire stack. Safe to say this is no healthy strategy in the long run. You'll often see the Maniac being very active in the chat – mocking everyone and everything. The only player able to play poker at the table – in the eyes of the Maniac – is himself. All others are pathetic losers and if they win a pot it's all luck. In reality it's usually the other way around. Very Loose/Aggressive players are often referred to as Maniacs, but that's a misunderstanding. Loose/Aggressive is a highly demanding style of play with huge potential, whereas the Maniac really has no style of play. Characteristics:
"Raise", "reraise" and "all in" are the words you'll hear from the Maniac. "Call" and especially "fold" are not in this player's vocabulary. Strengths: Can only in very rare cases be bluffed. Will win a lot of pots on account of sheer aggression – pushing people around with big bets and raises. Weaknesses: The bets and raises of the Maniac are often so big compared to the value in the pot, that this type of player will only get called by vastly superior hands – or hands with giant potential. A true Maniac has no knowledge of or interest in probabilities, pot odds and all that tedious and theoretical stuff. To this player a bluff is not a bluff – it's a standard bet. How to counter this player: Be patient. Wait for the big hands and then trap the Maniac at the table into investing everything. Sometimes the Maniac will throw the entire stack at you unprovoked, but sometimes you have to "help" the Maniac along by making small bets – provoking an all in raise. A Maniac is free money almost every time you run into one at the tables. Just pray you are the one to bust the Maniac, because usually you won't get a second chance. A Maniac will almost always leave the table quickly if busted. Back to Beginners |
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