Controlling The Pot-size...

[DrZebra 0]

I mostly post hands I play online and this hand is from a live game, so I'll divide this post in the following manner:section A will be initial reads of situation, players, atmosphere...section B will be the straight up hand historysection C will be my analyses and results.A:Wild gambling atmosphere in a California card-room. Lot's of Asian table games (yes that's the term for it) and hold'em and a few omaha tables. This is a hot spot for 40-60 year old "pros" who make their living by playing 2/5 NL or 9/18 limit. The 2/5 game is generally juicy, but when you're playing at my hours the competition gets tougher.It's 6:30am and I've got ~600 in the 2/5 game. A new guy sits just as the game's tightening up and on the verge of breaking. He announces that he has an errand to run at 8am and buys in for 340.In 2 of his first 5 hands he's all-in preflop. Someone makes a comment and he says he's either going to run up a stack or go broke.A few hands later he fast plays top pair to such a degree that a solid player looks him up with a middle pair. The guy's sitting in the 1000 range when he and I get involved in a hand.B:7-handedI'm in the BB with A J :club:There is an MP limper...Villain in CO raises to 25.I opt to call and MP folds.Flop (60) A 8 2 :club:I check. Villain bets 40. I call.Turn (140) 4 :spade:I check. Villain bets 100. I call.River (340) 7 :spade:I check. Villain bets 200. I ......C:Preflop: I've been playing conservatively. At these tables, anything could be in there (ie people call 60 dollar raises with 4-2 for real) and I find that outplaying post-flop is the best method. Hence I opt to just call and not reraise the possible maniac.Flop: I'm not a huge fan of this flop. Here are some possibilities:-he's got no piece and I'm way ahead with tp/gk and a decent flush draw-he's got a smaller ace, I'm way ahead-he's got a small flush, I'm way behind-he's got a bigger ace, I may or may not have 9 outs-he's got a big club or a pocket pair and will be looking to take the pot downI opt to check/call because if I lead will have to fold to a big raise and I may want to draw cheaply, and because with the pot size small, he's less likely to make a big bet on future streets if he has a naked big club. I could shove here, but I'm not clear enough on where I am (but that may be the right play.)Turn: At this point I still don't know where I'm at. I'm a little confused as to how he can still be betting. He may be a maniac. I think I have to call this and hope to get a check behind on the river (although given this bet I'm probably going to lead any club on the river.)River: I'm assuming we're both unimproved and calling here is probably correct. I'm still confused as to how he can bet so confidently and it seems he probably has air or the flush.Results: I call the river bet and he flips up pocket 4's.Guy to my right who I've become friendly with says to me "This guy's in here for a pitstop, discourage him, don't give him action. You should not have called the river bet." I then recall 'accidentally' seeing this guy fold in the BB to a raise from this pit-stopper with AQo. Thoughts?

[krup24 0]

Flop (60) A 8 2 :club:I check. Villain bets 40. I call.I've been playing conservatively. At these tables, anything could be in there (ie people call 60 dollar raises with 4-2 for real) and I find that outplaying post-flop is the best method. Hence I opt to just call and not reraise the possible maniac.

Please do not post results, if you are hide them.Well you are kinda contradicting your logic for calling preflop. I honestly wouldn't play this hand but against a maniac its definitely debateable. You say you have no clue where ur at in the hand well C/R the flop every freaking time. What are we scared of here? AA or a flopped flush. We have to think we have the best flush draw and we have top pair and we are heads up against a maniac. C/R the flop and pot the turn.

[DrZebra 0]

Please do not post results, if you are hide them.Well you are kinda contradicting your logic for calling preflop. I honestly wouldn't play this hand but against a maniac its definitely debateable. You say you have no clue where ur at in the hand well C/R the flop every freaking time. What are we scared of here? AA or a flopped flush. We have to think we have the best flush draw and we have top pair and we are heads up against a maniac. C/R the flop and pot the turn.

So Check/Raise/Fold the flop?

[Scott3705 0]

Please do not post results, if you are hide them.Well you are kinda contradicting your logic for calling preflop. I honestly wouldn't play this hand but against a maniac its definitely debateable. You say you have no clue where ur at in the hand well C/R the flop every freaking time. What are we scared of here? AA or a flopped flush. We have to think we have the best flush draw and we have top pair and we are heads up against a maniac. C/R the flop and pot the turn.

wordIn live games, against a maniac.... you just gotta remember that he's a maniac.

[krup24 0]

So Check/Raise/Fold the flop?

You won't be folding cause most of the time maniac is folding. Fight aggression w/ aggression especially when we have a hand.

[NoSup4U 0]

You won't be folding cause most of the time maniac is folding. Fight aggression w/ aggression especially when we have a hand.

I consider myself relatively aggressive. I don't mind when people fight my aggression with more aggression, because then I know if I'm beat and can get out on the flop. I HATE when I get slow played....Just my thoughts from the other side.Mark