Lagtard on my left and I'm lost

[SeaEagle]

Last night I played about 100 hands on a PP5/10 table with a 96/60/1.8 maniac - on my immediate left. And the 60 PFR is a little understated since he was forced to call capped flops. Amongst other hands, he 3-bet 43o and capped 63o.

When he first sat down, I was OK. I had a couple of middling hands (KTs, etc) that I open raised, he 3-bet and I was HU against him. But after a couple of rounds, the rest of the table caught on and started 3-betting/capping with normal raising hands, and I wasn't able to isolate him anymore.

At this point I was completely lost. I kept finding myself playing ATs or 88 for 3 or 4 bets and having no idea where I was during the hand. I almost just got up and left the table, but I couldn't force myself with all these 15-20BB hands going on. How do people adjust to a situation like this?

[JJH3984]

If the table begins to threebet you/ cap light like this, you just have to tighten back up IMO. You are still in a very profitable situation. This is not to say that you should only be playing premiums; its just that AT or even 88 type hands won't play well OOP in multiway capped pots.

[Man of Means]

Bad situation overall. If the table is adjusting and iso-3-betting then all you can do is wait for big hands (TT+, AK, AJs+, KQs) and get in as many bets as possible; mix open-raises and limp-reraises.

Occasionally:
-you'll be able to play in the blinds.
-you'll be in the cutoff and able to open raise with an isolation-worthy hand (any ace, K9+, PP's)
-you can play for 1 (really 2) bets in late position if there are a lot of limpers, which will allow you to trap the field when you flop big.
Most of the time an ultra-TAG strategy is best, or just leave the table and buddylist the maniac if you're getting tilted.

[JJH3984]

[ QUOTE ]
Bad situation overall.

[/ QUOTE ] Not really. Just not as good as it could be.

[Man of Means]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Bad situation overall.

[/ QUOTE ] Not really. Just not as good as it could be.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. I guess it's relatively speaking a bit frustrating to be on that side of the maniac when you are playing so few hands and especially when they don't hold up or you get frozen up by a 3-bet/cap from someone on the other side.

[SeaEagle]

[ QUOTE ]
you can play for 1 (really 2) bets in late position if there are a lot of limpers, which will allow you to trap the field when you flop big.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is specifically the situation that was giving me trouble. 3 limpers to me in the CO. I have 88 or ATs. Do I fold? If I just call, it's going to raised and, since everyone is working off the maniac, often going to get 3-bet and come back to me for 2 more bets. And I can't raise or I'll get (at least) 3-bet and end up with my implied odds destroyed.

[Chaos_ult]

seat change asap

[JJH3984]

[ QUOTE ]
seat change asap

[/ QUOTE ] I hope you aren't suggesting he change tables. I agree with trying to get on LAG's left, but this just probably won't be possible online.

[James.]

if the maniac has changed the game to an extent that everyone is going maniacal PF tighten up. i'm thinking TT+, AQs, AKs, AKo. you can't play any implied odds hands if it is going 3bets or more pf and hands like 88 and 99 may be best pf when the money is going in, but multiway you will be outdrawn a good portion of the time with few outs if you don't flop a set. it may sound boring, but it will make the most money i think(if i am understanding the table dynamics properly). also, it will help minimize variance which can be a big factor given the action and players involved. these pots get so big pf that alot of people with alot of hands are going to the river. it is an unavoidable fact. and your seat sucks.

[Dazarath]

I disagree with everyone saying tighten up. When your opponents are opening/3-betting a wider range, then you should be capping a wider range. HEFAP's section on wild games is pretty poor too. I don't disagree that you could probably show a profit just playing AA-JJ/AK (or whatever hands he lists); I disagree that it's the most +EV strategy to play. It's definitely going to be high variance playing at such a table, so if you can't handle it, then you might want to switch tables. If you have the bankroll and the stomach, though, it'd definitely be a great situation to be in (except that your seat sucks).