📊 HUD Stats
VPIP
50-80%
Extremely high
PFR
40-60%
Extremely high
AF
> 5
Normal: 2.5-3.5
3bet%
15-30%
Normal: 6-9%
Cbet F
80-100%
Nearly every time
The Maniac Mindset
- "Everyone's bluffing" / "bet more and win more" mentality
- Can run hot short-term, but long-term negative EV
- Gets emotional — can escalate when called
- Tends to bet even bigger when a bluff is called out
⚔️ Exploit Strategy
Key Principle: No Fold Equity Exists
Bluffing doesn't work against a maniac. Assume "they will call my bluff" at all times. Use only strong hands and keep collecting value. Patience is your greatest weapon.
- Play tight: Tighten your entry range at a maniac's table — strong hands only
- Call or 4-bet vs 3-bets: Call/4-bet with JJ+, AK+ vs their 3-bets. Value 4-bets also work since they'll call
- No squeezes: Maniacs call or re-raise squeezes too
- Secure position: Sitting to a maniac's left is the most important table selection factor
- Use traps frequently: Check strong hands — maniacs will bet into you
- Slow-play works: Check sets and two pair+ to invite their bets, then call or check-raise
- Raise large: When check-raising, size to 100%+ pot — maniacs call
- Zero bluffs: Maniacs call almost everything — bluffing is pure negative EV
- Medium hands: Prefer folding second pair over calling down — their value range exists too
- Accept short-term losses: Maniacs sometimes win ugly. Trust long-term EV
- Don't tilt: When they suck out on you, your EV hasn't changed — stay disciplined
- Bankroll management: Games with maniacs have high variance — bring extra bankroll
- No emotional revenge: Responding with anger and bluffs is the worst counter-strategy
🎯 Maniac Counter — Tight Call-Down Range
Range Construction
- Tighten preflop entry (roughly 88+, AJ+, KQ+)
- Flop call-down threshold: top pair or better — maniac bluffs are frequent
- Speculative hands (suited connectors) are less valuable — maniacs inflate pot sizes
🎮 Cash vs Tournament
Cash Game
- Very high variance — bring 2-3x normal bankroll
- Sitting left of the maniac makes ISO plays easier preflop
- At 100BB+ deep stacks, set mining has high EV
Tournament
- Losing your stack to a maniac ends your tournament — be very ICM-conscious
- Near the bubble, tighten call range vs maniac attacks
- You can also leverage a maniac to apply ICM pressure on others
⚠️ Common Mistakes
What NOT to Do
- Bluffing back: Maniacs call bluffs too — negative EV
- Going emotional: Tilt destroys your game — "blame the maniac" is a trap
- Calling down with weak hands: Maniacs bluff a lot but also have value — careful with medium hands
- Small raise sizes: Bet big vs maniacs — they call anyway