HU v's maniac hand ($5.25)

[bjsaust]

This guy started out sane (other than a couple of 5xBB PF raises I folded to), however once I got 2:1 chips on him he went into P/F mode. Well, actually he just went into P mode, no F at all. He get back itg when I called with JJ v's K5 and he hit his K, but still going aggro with huge raises. I got him back down to not many chips (still 25xBB though) with TT v' QJ that held up. Now he's just pushing every hand. Is this a hand to make a stand if he's pushing ATC (call it 80% if you like, but I havnt seen him fold yet).



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (2 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB (t470)
Hero (t2530)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, K.
Hero {plays or folds?}.

[mikeneron]

My buddy had pretty much the exact same question this morning. He was playing against a guy who was going all in on every hand. I guess when a player feels they are out skilled, they will use this tactic as it takes the skill factor out of the equation.

In your case (as in the case of my buddy), the blinds are still low (10/20), so you have lots of time to wait for a good hand to call with. Let him take his 20 in blinds each time. In this situation, I am waiting for AT+, 88+ to call with. So to answer your question, I am folding K8 in your position.

When the blinds are higher (50/100), that is much different as you can't wait too long for a good hand as the blinds are actually worth something. In this situation, I am now calling with A8o+, 22+....maybe even KQ or KJ.

What are everyone else's calling requirements in these situations if he is pushing any two cards?

[marmot]

Whilst the blinds are this low I'd just sit and wait for a better spot

[drmcboy]

you are saying regardless of whether you call or raise any amount you expect him to shove?

You are ahead of a random hand, 56/44, so calling is +EV, the question is can you find a better spot. If you think he's going to keep shoving forever I might wait... I guess for about a top 25% hand, but K8 is really close.

Note that calling is still +EV even if he is 'only' shoving top 50%.

[Fnord]

What are everyone else's calling requirements in these situations?

Any Ace, Any Pair, some of the better Kx hands.

I think you need to call here and probably call his push too.

[Zee Devee]

If you are first to act why don't you just put him all in?

[mikeneron]

Once you show aggression, they will fold like a cheap tent. It's all about just letting them think they are in control and just waiting for the big hand.

[drmcboy]

If you are first to act why don't you just put him all in?

Big Blind is t20

you want to open shove 500 chips with K8? No one said he's calling with ATC.

[bjsaust]

The TT hand I took him back down with was a push over something like a 15xBB raise from him (around 400) which he insta-called with QJ. I dont expect him to fold to a push, but he might.

I decided to play this one, so completed, he pushed, I called, he flipped J8 and I won.

Blinds were still low though, waiting another 20 hands for an Ax or PP really wouldnt hurt that much if its going to end up AI anyway. My main thinking was that even if I lose this one I'm still 2000 chips to 1000.

Sounds like it was around borderline which is about how I felt, but the chip stacks if I lost tipped me over towards calling.

[bigspenda73]

Here are my thoughts. If you decide that once you get K8o you're going to felt it PF against this exact opponent you should LIMP the button instead of raise PF. Why? well I think limping induces a lot more bluffs from worser hands while raising detracts him from pushing.

Just my 2 cents...

[bjsaust]

So I got this one right then ?

The one time I'd raised since he got into this mode he'd folded, but I'd completed a few times and he'd either pushed or at least raised like 10BB each time.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (2 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB (t470)
Hero (t2530)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, K.
Hero calls t10, BB raises to t470, Hero calls t450.

Flop: (t940) 6, 7, T (2 players)

Turn: (t940) Q (2 players)

River: (t940) A (2 players)

Final Pot: t940

Results:
BB has 8h Js (high card, ace).
Hero has 8d Kc (high card, ace).
Outcome: Hero wins t940.