A maniac presents a unique set of challenges for any poker player. In fact, the maniac is not always at a disadvantage. For instance, a maniac might fare well in heads-up play against a passive opponent. In short-handed games with multiple passive opponents the maniac likely enjoys a significant edge.

The maniac’s demise usually comes in full-ring games (with at least eight players), where he is up against just one or two opponents in each hand – at least one of which (or even both) holds a stronger hand. What happens is that all the players become more disciplined and tend to play technically-correct poker. They wait for strong starting hands with which to confront the maniac. Hence, the maniac often faces the one or two best hands at the table, and is frequently at a disadvantage. Because opponents see that the maniac plays many hands and will pay the bets off with a flurry of raises, all that is necessary is to patiently wait for strong cards and let the odds work against the maniac.

Unfortunately, this poses a serious problem if you fail to get good starting hands. Some undisciplined players see chips fl ying around the table and can’t contain themselves.

They begin relaxing their own starting-hand requirements. These undisciplined players see the maniac occasionally win with garbage, and react by betting or raising with marginal cards. This plays right into the maniac’s intent – to generate action, put opponents on tilt, and create a wild poker game with multiple players in every hand with huge pots.

Most games with a maniac usually fall into one of two categories – they are either very tight (two- or three-way action in most pots) or very wild (multiple opponents calling raises in every hand). The maniac’s behaviour causes every single player at the table to adjust his strategy.