Saturday's session recap - dealing with bullies and measured maniacs

As close as I could find to an example of a
Crasian: Jerry Yang

As I was writing my last post, it occurred to me that that I think are innocuous to me may be of interest to my readers.  This post is fairly independent of the hands identified in that post, but they come from a prior session.

Let me set up the table for you:

On my left, I have what I would call a "measured maniac," and for the purposes of this entry, we'll call him "Crasian #1."  He is the Crasian type who spots weakness and/or weak/tight play and jumps on it.  He'll raise random average hands (i.e. K4hh, A5o, etc.), but he'll also raise air when he feels that he'll be able to take down pots without a fight.

• I complete my SB and he raises to $100 with 3 limpers (including me).  All fold and he scoops.
• He straddled for $6 UTG and I complete my BB option with A2o - just me and the BTN.  He raises to $70 with KQo and the BTN ($22 behind) calls.  I fold.  BTN shows QJo and he scoops.
• I'd seen him raise flush draws continually, usually getting paid when he hit, and usually getting folds when he missed.
• He pushed me off a hand where I flopped bottom pair and a straight draw with 4c2c on a 2 3h5h board when he turned 8h - action went he bet $20 flop (I'm the only caller and consider shoving $200+ effective or at the minimum raising).  Turn 7h - he bets $70 and I fold, thinking my open ender is only good to 6 outs now, if I'm not already behind -- he shows me the K8hh that he raised to $10 in early position and priced me out of the hand on the turn...

Other  player sits across from us, also a Crasian, so forth named "Crasian #2."  Not as measured as the one to my left; he's less patient and more maniacal.  As one would expect from that kind of play, he went busto fairly quickly, but not before this fine gem when Crasian #1 raised to $20 with KK in the BB and got limp / shoved on for $120 by Crasian #2 with A8ss PF - A on the flop, A on the turn sealed it for Crasian #2.

Anyway, at this point, Crasian #1 is aware that I'm an okay player; he probably views me as weak / tight, as I've limped into a host of pots and folded to his raises each time.  He's straddling my BB (which is fine by me, since he's UTG when he does it).  I think he's somewhat targeting me, but we have a good rapport between the two of us.  In this particular hand, I straddle the BTN for $6 and he immediately throws out $20 as a blind raise in the SB.  LOL.  It folds around to Crasian #2 who limp / calls for $20.  It continues to fold around to my option on the BTN.  I am aware of my weak / tight image and look down at A6o.  $43 in the middle, I decide to jack it up with what very likely is the best hand: $71 to go.  Crasian #1 thinks for a long time before folding.  Crasian #2 insta-mucks and says "your Ace-King is good, sir!"  Read confirmed; they believe I'm only raising premo's.

I didn't get the chance to toy with Crasian #2 since he busted shortly afterwards, but Crasian #1 moved seats across the table a bit later when the following came up:

3 open limps and I'm on the BB with 88: I open to $20 and Crasian #1 is the only caller.  I hate the flop: A Q 7, two tone.  I check and Crasian checks.  Turn is an offsuit 3.  I opt to bet $45, realizing that Crasian #1 is afraid of my slow played Aces, etc., and therefore did not want to bet into what could be perceived as a weakness flop check.  He just calls my out of position delayed cbet.  River is a 5 and I decide to check / call a bet if there is one.  I've gotten decent value for a middling pair, if I am indeed ahead.  FWIW, I'm calling all reasonable river bets from him (save for a shove; we're around $500 deep).  He checks and waits for me to show - I show and he mucks.  If he bets flop, I likely fold to the 2 overcards and think nothing more of the hand.

The purpose of sharing these hands is to make a point of how to deal with table maniacs and watch game flow.  A bully will bully until he becomes afraid of his opponent, or at the very least, wary of capabilities.  If you make him or her think you're capable of something, or put the thought in their head, they'll start making decisions that they wouldn't ordinarily make against other players.  You want this - you want to get them off their usual game.  Game flow -wise, watch for tilt.  Crasian #1 is tilty because he loses with KK vs. a junk Ace.  He's calling wide and a bit steamed.  Press your advantage, read him for upset and loosening up, or tightening up trying to get back to even.  Be aware of your own image, and what you project to him.  If you project tight / weak, then raise more frequently... even 3bet more frequently, since he'll respect your bets more frequently than another maniac.  Put the pressure back on him; don't become a calling station unless you're trapping.  If you're calling, you better be prepared to call down, otherwise you're burning money while also emboldening your maniac opponent.

In the end, I can't say for certain whether I won the money war between Maniac #1 and myself (although I'm pretty certain I walked away ahead).  However, I know by the middle of the session that he stopped targeting me, moved away from me (table-wise) and definitely respected [if not feared] my play.  He stopped trying to walk all over me when I started playing back at him.  If you find yourself in a similar spot, where you have a tight image, start exploiting it!  Raise on the turn, raise on the flop!  You'll get respect and folds from a player such as this...