[Smurph64]

it only takes one maniac to screw up all kinds of situations for the traditional player.

Bottom line when a maniac goes nuts preflop you have to bet for value. This is the time when you should be figuring out what cards you can raise with because of equity over the ranges of the other players.

People forget that J10s for example has an equity edge over a lot of hands 3 and 4 way.

So you may limp utg with J10s but if UTG +1 the maniac raises and 2 or 3 others call you can easily justify raising for value.

After that its in the hands of the poker gods. With the hand above you have to bet the crap out of it and hope everyone misses their draws or you improve.

It's tough to lose big pots but when you consider the fact that you win more than your share of them it really is a simple choice to bet like crazy when you have equity edge against loose wild players.