TT Level 3

[NotReady]

I'm on a major slide over the last 100 tourneys and am replaying all of them to try to find leaks. This hand seems obvious to me, but I guess I need to know, as I have no confidence left playing STTs. I'm also sliding in the shorthanded games I play, but I'm much more certain of my play there. Any advice appreciated.

$11 No Reads.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (t1780)
Hero (t730)
UTG+1 (t820)
MP1 (t480)
MP2 (t290)
CO (t2070)
Button (t820)
SB (t1010)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with T/images/graemlins/spade.gif, T/images/graemlins/club.gif.
Hero calls t50, UTG+1 calls t50, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, CO calls t50, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB completes, <font color="#CC3333">BB raises to t300</font>, Hero folds, UTG+1 calls t250, CO folds, SB folds.

Flop: (t750) 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif, T/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, UTG+1 checks.

Turn: (t750) K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 bets t300</font>, BB calls t300.

River: (t1350) J/images/graemlins/heart.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 bets t220 (All-In)</font>, BB calls t220.

Final Pot: t1790

If I had a bigger stack I would have raised, shorter stack push, level 4 push. I'm finding good but not great hands on level 3 with &lt;1000 chips very difficult to play.

[BDarch]

I would probably push here after the raise if I had limped, but I probably would have raised to 150 because I hate limping in level 3.

[NotReady]

I find L3 the most difficult level. I didn't push because the risk/reward is so small. I didn't raise because it takes too much of the stack. I didn't fold because the hand is too good.

I have the same problem with hands like AQo, AJs, KQs, etc., which are easy to play at other levels.

[pergesu]

You can't call off half your stack with TT. Gotta either fold or push preflop. You chose fold, but because of the uber donkness of $11s, I push.

No need to show postflop play when your action is complete preflop. In fact, the best way to post this hand is to post everything up to your fold and ask what you should do, something like, "Hero ??"

[NotReady]

Open push or call then push after the BB raises?

I assume after the raise. If so, how weak a hand to do this with? Smallest pair, AQ, AK,KQs - ie, hands you might open call with.

Thanks for the input.

[schwza]

[ QUOTE ]
I would probably push here after the raise if I had limped, but I probably would have raised to 150 because I hate limping in level 3.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah

[NotReady]

Do you then call a push after you raise the $150?

[BDarch]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you then call a push after you raise the $150?

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on who the push is from

[pergesu]

Push after the initial raise.

I don't particularly like doing it with a pair as low as TT (I think it should be reserved for AA-QQ), but actually, a blog post by Paul Phillips (http://www.livejournal.com/users/extempore/43850.html) I read today makes me like it a lot more.

It has to do with monster draws on the flop, but I think the idea applies here. Basically you're looking to limp initially, hopefully you flop a set. If you flop an overpair, or there's just one or two overcards, you can probably pick up the pot cheaply. But if someone raises, now you push. You've got a hand that you don't mind being all in heads up with. But you've also got some FE on the initial raiser, which is nice because you don't love your hand.

[NotReady]

Thanks for the link, very helpful.

I obviously need to rethink some of my play. I'm basically working off the old AM guide, but that's only a starting point. My recollection is he said to limp L1-3 with this type hand and fold for a raise behind. I wasn't thinking this specifically, but was probably influenced by it.

I've found in limit play that losing streaks coupled with many marginal situations is where I learn the most. Guess right now I'm paying for STT lessons.