I played in a tournament last night and ended up playing with several maniac type players. The game was 8 seated and most of the players were young fellas who continually kept pushing their chips in or close to it with medium sized stacks on nothing more than Ace-Rag or worse. Is the only real way to combat this to sit and wait it out? IS there a way to back them off?

It's not the only way, but it's the safest/most effective way.

nope. there is probably no chance incurbing there aggression. don't bluff these types of players and don't try to push them around unless you've got the goods. the good thing about this type of player is that they won't give two shits about how tight you are so when you re-raise them with the goods, they're bound to pay you off.

I love players like that. I know I will double or triple up as soon as I get a hand. Patience is key with these players.

as long as the blinds are not ridiculous. You can wait them out., I encounter this heads up all the time.

If i play and someone continues to lose post flop., they start to just raise everything, most of the time all-in. This is when i know i have them., As soon as they make a raise when i've got something.. I push right back. Either they call and are out., or they back off., and you start to take control.

Its the ol' back the fuck off my chips Bitch

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with the blinds consideration. I once played in a tourney w/150% the average chip stack in about round 7. Two maniacs, one to my right and one across the table, were making the game a hassle. I kept waiting to get my money hand, and ended up severly shortstacked having to put in a frustrated push with A-rag (ended up losing the hand to a maniac w/89 soooooted).

thanks guys...

the blinds were up (round 5) so i was gradually being blinded out and getting no starting hands so it was difficult to sit and wait. when that situation arises now and then i get a little frustrated.