Haha, all of us low stakes players sympathize with everything you say here. I've been watching a few videos which relate to these players.The advice seems to be limp most hands to control pot size and be very, very patient. Yes, there will be matches where you are card dead and it seems to happen even more often against this type of player. What can you do, indeed?I'm in the process of putting together a catalogue of all the Standard Membership videos, which should provide direction as to which videos to watch for certain topics.For now, I can recommend:1. Fydor, Leakfinder 7/03  This is a very basic video dealing with this type of opponent, but I think it's worthwhile to watch.2. Skates Video #2, #37 Some scattered concepts against loose players3. Cog Dissonance #41 Postflop adjustments vs. each player type based upon board texture. If you haven't seen this, you must see it. It's one of the best videos on the site.4. Cog Dissonance #43 I think he plays five different players in this video, all of which are Aggro. You need to watch this one! The best live play video I've seen dealing with Aggro players.Most of the videos I have watched do not deal with these Loose-Aggressive opponents, but it is the area where most of us have the most trouble adapting. They really do need more videos with these players, but it's hit or miss when they are making live videos.Hopefully, I will find more instances of play vs. aggro players as I watch more videos, but I hope this will help you out a little bit.I think that against this type of opponent, if you are card-dead, you are dead. All you can do is be patient. I think my biggest leak against them is calling down some stupid second pair on a wet board after they've been barreling every board. I'm quickly finding out this isn't working too well. I'm just starting to realize how important it is to keep the pot as small as possible preflop with all but super strong hands, and let them build a huge pot for me postflop.

Everything qattack said was on the money.  These are the players I have the most trouble adapting to.  But, I also think my trouble adapting isn't just switching to a limping, pot controling, more patient style.  It's doing it fast enough.  By the time I figure out what they are doing and adapt, I am down to 1,000 chips.  Once these players get a 2-1 chip lead, it's very hard to get patient, and wait for a hand where they are going to pay you off. I also remember in one of the cog videos Qattack mentioned, he describes each of the player types:  tight passive, loose passive, TAG, and LAG.  He makes a good point where he says, in heads up, the mainiac LAG is the "bad" player style that is closest to the "optimal" play style.  If you look at it that way, these players are bad, but not as bad as tight passives, loose passives, or even tight agressives.  So, maybe they are actually fairly good?  Or at least best of the bad?  Try to look at it this way.  They are playing a high variance style, more suited to the ultra turbos, and obviously doing it fairly well. Watch the videos qattack recommends, then watch some of the ultra turbo vids.  You get more of an insight into what they are doing.

Yes, I guess that is what I really meant kallin...I don't adjust fast enough either. A large part of my problem is my "need" to put specific labels on players, and I'm left confused by an apparent LAG player who exhibits tight or passive tendencies in some specific situations.Most Villains do not fit neatly into one category and that's what really seems to give me trouble. I try a defense versus a LAG player and suddenly he doesn't seem LAG for two or three hands, and then I begin to doubt my assessment of just how LAG this player really is.I haven't viewed any ultra-turbo videos yet. They are not high on my priority list, but I'm still looking forward to them, especially since Cog has produced them.

You can obviously try a 3-bet now and again, if that doesn't slow them and you're still card dead then you're f*cked, it's as simple as that. I've noticed in Cog's videos when he's playing a maniac and card dead he's throwing a 3-bet in with ATC within 5 hands, I think that's all you can do. Obviously try a re-raise on a dry flop but at the lower stakes the maniacs are not folding guttys or even backdoors. I try to joke or type in some friendly chat while limping or min raising and hope it slows them down.Played a few maniacs last night, proper ones that were 100% in every betting stat you can have. All bets were 4-5x pre then pot sized bets. I asked where do you learn this? One told me "Play school" and was quite friendly in chat. Another told me this is his style and he dominates every game and finds the games so easy. I didn't mention to him it was BS and he had a -roi, just kept it friendly. Another told me "If I'm in position, I'm not folding". They're actually quite chatty, maniacs. I just tell them I'm card dead but slow down I'm due some good stuff with a smiley.But give me a tight passive any day because these are proper hard work. One maniac was relentless last night and I was down to 800 chips without a sniff of a hand. I min raised some suited stuff, he did the obvious 3-bet, flop was 633 with two of my suits, he did his pot bet and I went all in. He shows me 63 and I'm like "O RLY?"

What drives a maniac to play the way he does?I can only think of two reasons:1. Just messing around and not at all thinking seriously about the game; just having fun.2. EGOAm I missing any? And can this help us in our play against them? If you can figure out what motivates these players, I assume it would unlock some "secrets" about how to play against them.

There might be an element of just messing around and having fun.  No one would play this game if it wasn't fun.  If I could find a job I found fun, I might do it for .80 cents an hour, especially if there was the prospect of far more money in the future.There is a term you should keep in mind when dealing with these people.  It's e-penis .. More commonly refered to as e-peen.  It has to do with ego.  Poker is a competition.  There is a person looking at a computer screen just like you are.  The object of the game is to get the other person's money.  Some people study the game with the intention of getting better at it. Others think they are the greatest that have ever lived, and there is no telling them any different. I was playing live poker in Sioux City.  The table was a $100-300 buy-in $1-2 NL.  These morons were playing for stacks.  Raise, re-raise, all-in, call, K3o takes the pot from K10o .. Bad beat story ensues.  I posted blinds for 3 hours, saw 2 or 3 flops.  Finally, I looked down at A6d and called like 6 bucks.  Flop comes out with 2 diamonds.  Small bet from idiot on my right.  I call.  Turn is an A.  Top pair and nut flush draw now.  Another bet.  I call.  River comes out a diamond.  Guy shoves me all in for like 200 bucks.  I look at the board, at my cards, back at the board, back at my cards.  I'm not slow rolling.  I'm swearing I must have missed the board pairing or something.  Check to see if the guy had me covered .. He did .. Looked back at my cards .. No .. still the stone cold nuts .. OK .. I call .. He just mucks.  I still don't have a clue what he had. The thrill isn't getting better.  It isn't long term win rates, +EV plays, or positive ROI.  The thrill cones from cracking your AA with 94c or 63o.  18% of the time they will.  They fist pump, and will swear they are poker gods to all their friends the next day at work.  The other 82% of the time they shrug their shoulders and say, "it was only 5 bucks".