What does Maniac mean in poker? 

A Maniac in poker is a player with an extremely aggressive and often chaotic style. They bet heavily, raise frequently, apply constant pressure, and enter pots with a much wider range than usual.

How does this style work? 

A maniac keeps the pressure on all the time. They may attack pots with weak hands, force the action, and push opponents into mistakes simply through pace and aggression. Over a short stretch, this style can be hard to deal with because it disrupts the table and makes calm decision-making more difficult.

Where does it appear?

You can see this type of player:

• in cash games;

• in tournaments;

• online;

• in live poker.

Is a maniac a strong player or a weak one?

Not always one or the other. Sometimes a maniac is just a poor player mashing the accelerator with no control. Sometimes it is a strong player deliberately breaking the normal flow of the table. So the term describes the style first, and only then the quality of play.