Playing Short Handed with 3 Maniacs

[Aequitas58]

You mentioned that they're maniacs... they sound like good players to me if you were getting bullied all night! Seriously: you say they were routinely playing the flop strong ... is that only when they hit the flop? This answer alone will dictate how you play them. If they are ALWAYS strong post-flop, pick a hand that hits the flop and push. If you miss, fold and wait for your opportunity.

Down to 4 maniacs / fast players: Stick to the basics. I would say that since they are playing loose, you should tighten up... but since the blinds are so high, you're forced to play:

First, when playing PF, put your opponent on a range of hands. If you simply can't do this because they are so unpredictable, then find a hand and push w/ it. Here, I would go w/ any Ace, any K7/8+, Q9+, or any PP. Don't CALL all your chips in, unless you have a good hand. Don't CALL all your chips in pre-flop with anything speculative, unless you have a read that he's playing aggro w/ 35o.

Second, I would try to see cheap flops. It sounds like this group of friends like to get into dick-swinging pre-flop raising wars (why wasn't I invited? LOL), so an UTG / Button limp might just let you see a cheap flop.

No cheap flops? Then you know how to play anything premium. Limp! You know where to go from there.

HTH,