Trying to incorporate the plus' of the maniac strategy into my game

[Van_Broke]

I have been experimenting with a LAG style lately, especially in those bingo type tournies with ridiculous blind structures. So far in cash games, I've been somewhat unsuccessful with it. Sometimes it works great, other times it doesn't. The biggest thing seems to be if players are either bad enough (calling stations) or good enough (solid but not weak), it just doesn't work. If people are willing to call a big bet with second pair then it just isn't worth it.

I think the classic supersystem plays are viable for a LAG style which are some of the things I tried to incorporate. Moving in with a good draw if you run into resistance, putting in a big raise in LP with a bunch of limpers, putting in a big re-raise with an opener and a few callers, etc. I like to raise the SB everytime he completes if I'm in the BB heads up.

Another thing I found helped was distinguising which players will just call with TPMK as opposed to raising to see where they're at. Same goes for second pair. It can help you determine whether they are drawing or not on boards like JT5 etc. Same goes for players who will call the flop bet with AK or two big overs on a rag board, and if those players will fold the turn if another brick comes off. You could say the same for players with small or med pairs when some paint hits the flop. Things like this helped me to learn if I should keep firing or bail.

There have been times when it has worked great for me, and it's awesome. The most enjoyable poker there is imo. Overall, I lost a little with this stategy though, but I still think it was worth trying. Maybe going into a game with the mindset of playing LAG isn't the best idea, but I found that doing that helped me change gears if I thought the table was prone to a LAG style. Don't know if that helps any, but that's my thoughts on it.