Maniac
A hyper-aggressive player who raises and re-raises with almost anything. Maniacs create huge variance at the table; the counter is to tighten up, let them bluff, and call down with strong hands.
Frequently asked questions
What is a maniac in poker?
A player who bets and raises constantly, with a range so wide that the aggression carries no information. Unlike a calculated loose-aggressive regular, a maniac does not slow down for board texture or position.
How do you beat a maniac?
Tighten your opening hands, stop bluffing them, and let them pay you off. Call and raise with hands you would normally consider too strong to risk, because their range is far weaker than their betting suggests.
Why can maniacs win for long stretches?
Relentless aggression wins a lot of small pots uncontested and builds large stacks quickly when the cards cooperate. Variance is enormous, so a maniac's session results swing far harder than a tight player's.