Preflop question - 88 vs maniac

[Niediam]

CO is 60/40 and a true maniac. He can cap any two cards on any street - even in a multiway pot.

Button is loosepassive/callingstation with a 75 vpip.

Not much of a read on the BB but he seems reasonably tight.

Folded to the CO/maniac who raises.
Button/callingstation calls.
Hero is in the SB with 88. Raise or call?

[downrange]

I vote for call. What's the point in raising where as you say co is likely to cap? bb probably folds to your 3-bet but it sounds doubtful btn folds to co cap so you probably aren't getting HU in a nice pot anyway. Given that I'd rather encourage bb to stay in the hand and see what develops.

[Allday Everyday]

I would reraise raise here against the maniac and the calling station. I think you have a significant edge against these two guys and shouldn't call and give BB odds to call along.

[DrModern]

I'd call as with someone else jammed in trying to capitalize on the maniac it'll be hard to realize all of your PF equity with this hand. That is, do you really want to get to showdown UI when the maniac is capping every street when the board will frequently contain overcards to your pair. Seems like a potentially sticky situation but one just too profitable to give up on. Call.

[JJH3984]

raise that bitch. signifigant +EV against two basicly random hands.

[BJK]

I like the fact that you thought about making a 3-bet here. If I was on the button, it would be a no-brain reraise. The only reason why I elect to go for a call here is because you are out of position. The hand just becomes too difficult to play after the flop unless you hit your set.

[EGO]

Normally, I'd 3-bet it against a maniac, but the LPP in front of us and our lack of position make it more difficult. We will be checking most flops, and not know where we stand when the maniac bets and the loose-passive player invariably calls.

Calling is very OK, though. Expect to get paid off huge when you spike a set, and paid off fairly well when you flop an overpair. Pocket pairs [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] maniacs.

[Grease]

This is a very good question, and I think both options have strengths, but in the end 3-betting is best.

If you 3-bet, you can keep the BB out of the hand, and you are pushing your equity edge. Actually, I can't really think of a reason to not 3-bet, now that I'm writing this.

Hope the maniac caps. And then will another 8 to come out.