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View Full Version : Trouble building my stack (long)


2planka
09-21-2004, 02:47 PM
Cross post from psych forum. This is long. Apologies.

In my last four home tourneys I've finished 4th, 3rd, 4th, and 4th - all ITM finishes, but not the results I feel I should be getting given my online SNG results.

The biggest problem is that I've been the short stack on the bubble in each of these tourneys. It limits my play to all-in or fold, and I've had to settle for toss-up situations late (gamble for first, settle for fourth).

Small sample aside, I do have problems building my stack in the middle stages of live tourneys. My strategy in these home games is basically to play big hands early, open things up and try to steal in the mid to late stages, and flip the aggression switch with playable hands with seven players left (assuming four get paid).

It seems to come down to one hand. Here's one from saturday:

12 of 21 players left. Average stack is roughly T7000 BB is T300.
Hero (~T8500) is in CO with black 99.
Two limpers and Hero makes it T1100 to go. Button (maniac)cold calls, BB (TAG-ish decent player) calls, three to the flop (T4000 or so).

Flop is Kd Js 3s. BB checks, Hero bets T2000, Button pushes (~T3000), BB pushes (~T10000), Hero folds.

Button shows Ac 7c
BB shows 8s 8h

Turn is (Kd Js 3s) 9h
River is (Kd Js 3s 9h) Ah

Button wins ~T10000

I think the fold was okay, given the ugly flop and the two pushes, but did I invite the all-ins with my flop bet? Should I have pushed preflop? Should I have just checked the flop? Is the half pot flop bet too small here?

Anyway, my stack was shot and I had to scratch to make the final four. I got lucky with KTs and doubled up, but popped out when (4 handed) I pushed K9o from the button and ran into BB's AK. It was a gamble, and I'm okay with that.

I guess I'm asking if anyone can point me to a thread about building your stack in the middle stages of a small tourney. Any help is appreciated.

KT

casinogosain
09-21-2004, 03:39 PM
The approach I take to these small buy-in, small field tourneys is to steal often in the middle stages - but I try not to do it from obvious positions - button/CO. I'll often open-raise from MP or CO-1. Also, don't be afraid to bet flops that may have missed everyone - this is more of a feel for the other players than anything else. You basically have to decide early on if you want a finish ITM or if you want to win.

-Ash