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durron597

08-08-2005, 10:20 AM

I have been on a bad run of late. It's interesting, I'm actually getting better at having a bigger stack earlier but for some reason the part of my game I thought I was good at (the bubble) is now the part giving me the most trouble. So here is an HH of a bubble where there is absolutely no excuse for me to have finished OOTM, and yet I did. Comments on any hand is appreciated, but please give particular attention to hands 8, 18, and 20.

Hand 1:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2220)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t3500)
Button (Axxxx) (t3540)
Hero (t4240)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t4240, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t4315

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t4315. 

Hand 2:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1795)
BB (Cxxxx) (t3475)
UTG (Axxxx) (t3515)
Hero (t4715)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
1 fold, Hero raises to t4715, 2 folds.

Final Pot: t4790

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t4790. 

Hand 3:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1570)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3050)
BB (Axxxx) (t3490)
Hero (t5390)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, A/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
Hero raises to t5390, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t5465

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5465. 

Hand 4:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1545)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2825)
SB (Axxxx) (t3065)
Hero (t6065)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 3/images/graemlins/club.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t1400, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t1475

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t1475. 

Hand 5:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1520)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2800)
Button (Axxxx) (t3540)
Hero (t5640)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A/images/graemlins/club.gif, Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t5640, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t5715

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5715. 

Hand 6:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1095)
BB (Cxxxx) (t2775)
UTG (Axxxx) (t3515)
Hero (t6115)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9/images/graemlins/club.gif, 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
2 folds, SB (Jxxxx) raises to t1070, BB (Cxxxx) calls t670.

Flop: (t1815) 4/images/graemlins/club.gif, 5/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1815) 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1815) 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1815

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 6h 6d (two pair, sixes and fives).
Cxxxx has 3h 2d (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Jxxxx wins t1815. 

Hand 7:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2240)
SB (Cxxxx) (t1680)
BB (Axxxx) (t3490)
Hero (t6090)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
Hero raises to t6090, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t6165

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t6165. 

Hand 8:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t2215)
Button (Cxxxx) (t1455)
SB (Axxxx) (t3065)
Hero (t6765)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t800, Hero calls t400.

Flop: (t1275) T/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 3/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)
Axxxx bets t1200, Hero raises to t5940, Axxxx calls t1040 (All-In).

Turn: (t9455) 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t9455) K/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: t9455

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Qc Js (one pair, jacks).
Hero has 5d Td (one pair, tens).
Outcome: Axxxx wins t5755. Hero wins t3700. 

Hand 9:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2190)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t1430)
Button (Axxxx) (t6180)
Hero (t3700)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3/images/graemlins/club.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t100

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Jxxxx wins t100. 

Hand 10:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t2465)
BB (Cxxxx) (t1405)
UTG (Axxxx) (t6155)
Hero (t3475)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG (Axxxx) calls t400, Hero raises to t3475, 2 folds, UTG (Axxxx) folds.

Final Pot: t3950

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t3950. 

Hand 11:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2240)
SB (Cxxxx) (t980)
BB (Axxxx) (t5730)
Hero (t4550)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with T/images/graemlins/club.gif, 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, SB (Cxxxx) raises to t955, BB (Axxxx) calls t555.

Flop: (t1585) 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1585) K/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1585) Q/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1585

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Qd 9d (two pair, queens and sixes).
Cxxxx has Ah Qs (two pair, queens and sixes).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1585. 

Hand 12:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t2215)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2010)
SB (Axxxx) (t4750)
Hero (t4525)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 9/images/graemlins/club.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t200. 

Hand 13:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2165)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t1960)
Button (Axxxx) (t4400)
Hero (t4975)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t4975, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t5125

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5125. 

Hand 14:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1515)
BB (Cxxxx) (t1910)
UTG (Axxxx) (t4350)
Hero (t5725)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/club.gif.
UTG (Axxxx) raises to t1850, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t2000

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t2000. 

Hand 15:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1165)
SB (Cxxxx) (t1260)
BB (Axxxx) (t5400)
Hero (t5675)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 4/images/graemlins/club.gif, 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t200. 

Hand 16:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1115)
Button (Cxxxx) (t910)
SB (Axxxx) (t5850)
Hero (t5625)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif, T/images/graemlins/club.gif.
1 fold, Button (Cxxxx) raises to t860, 1 fold, Hero calls t260.

Flop: (t1270) J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 4/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 5/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1270) K/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1270) K/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1270

Results in white below: 
Cxxxx has 6d As (one pair, kings).
Hero has 8h Tc (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1270. 

Hand 17:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1065)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2220)
Button (Axxxx) (t5500)
Hero (t4715)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG (Cxxxx) raises to t1250, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t1400

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Cxxxx wins t1400. 

Hand 18:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t415)
BB (Cxxxx) (t3270)
UTG (Axxxx) (t5450)
Hero (t4365)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
1 fold, Hero calls t600, SB (Jxxxx) completes t65 (All-In), BB (Cxxxx) checks.

Flop: (t1415) A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif, A/images/graemlins/club.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

Turn: (t1415) T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

River: (t1415) A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: t1415

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 9d Ah (four of a kind, aces).
Cxxxx has Ks Jh (three of a kind, aces).
Hero has 9h 8d (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1020. Jxxxx wins t395. 

Hand 19:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1295)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3090)
BB (Axxxx) (t5400)
Hero (t3715)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t200. 

Hand 20:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1245)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2740)
SB (Axxxx) (t5850)
Hero (t3665)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t1250, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t1400

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t1400. 

Hand 20:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1195)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2690)
Button (Axxxx) (t6600)
Hero (t3015)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t1200, BB (Jxxxx) calls t545 (All-In).

Flop: (t1895) 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1895) K/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1895) 4/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: t1895

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 6s Ah (high card, ace).
Hero has 5h 7c (high card, king).
Outcome: Jxxxx wins t1290. Hero wins t605. 

Hand 21:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t2490)
BB (Cxxxx) (t2640)
UTG (Axxxx) (t6550)
Hero (t1820)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Cxxxx wins t200. 

Hand 22:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2140)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3090)
BB (Axxxx) (t6500)
Hero (t1770)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9/images/graemlins/club.gif, A/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
Hero raises to t1720, 2 folds, BB (Axxxx) calls t1120.

Flop: (t2990) K/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif, 4/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t2990) 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

River: (t2990) 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t2990

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Ac Qd (high card, ace).
Hero has 9c As (high card, ace).
Outcome: Axxxx wins t2990.

tigerite

08-08-2005, 10:46 AM

Hand 8 was just silly. The call preflop is just about ok, although I don't particularly love it, but then to re-raise him all in when he's put half his remaining stack on the flop, he ain't folding, and you will see a jack virtually every time here.

tigerite

08-08-2005, 10:50 AM

18 is ok but I think I would fold. Let the BB take 'em out. (Or lose chips, whichever). Hand 20, assuming you mean the 2nd one, is fine, and unexploitable. Hand 21, you should push.

If you're feeling frisky, or think UTG is a decent player, you could push hand 14 over the top of him too

45suited

08-08-2005, 10:53 AM

I agree that hand 8 was silly.

I was also surprised that you did not push hand 21. Why not?

durron597

08-08-2005, 10:59 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 8 was just silly. The call preflop is just about ok, although I don't particularly love it, but then to re-raise him all in when he's put half his remaining stack on the flop, he ain't folding, and you will see a jack virtually every time here.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought he might fold given UTG's short stack, and I thought it was also not unlikely he had a hand like 99 or 88. But I was probably wrong.

durron597

08-08-2005, 11:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]

I was also surprised that you did not push hand 21. Why not?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because I pushed so many hands so far and now people actually had me covered so I might get a call.

tigerite

08-08-2005, 11:04 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hand 8 was just silly. The call preflop is just about ok, although I don't particularly love it, but then to re-raise him all in when he's put half his remaining stack on the flop, he ain't folding, and you will see a jack virtually every time here.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought he might fold given UTG's short stack, and I thought it was also not unlikely he had a hand like 99 or 88. But I was probably wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the fact of UTG being short stack (and he's not all that short, at least not in terms of chips, most people don't think in terms of BBs at this stage, even though they should) means he is less likely to cont. bet this flop with an underpair, or even AKo etc. He's going to be very careful to protect his chips against you, the only one on the table who can bust him. I would be very surprised if he has a jack less than 90% of the time here.

As for the Q2s hand. Well, let 'em look you up then, but I really can't see it because a call is going to absolutely cripple them. I'd rather do it here than against the big stack in the BB next hand. (Although you picked up a relative monster and just got unlucky)

45suited

08-08-2005, 11:04 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I was also surprised that you did not push hand 21. Why not?

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Because I pushed so many hands so far and now people actually had me covered so I might get a call.

[/ QUOTE ]

I still think with the blind sizes and your stack, that was a push. I really don't think that you had a choice but to push that, especially since you still had some FE.

tigerite

08-08-2005, 11:07 AM

I totally agree, now you're on 3BB's and the big stack is next up in the blind, I'm pretty sure it's +EV to push even if they will call with quite a large range..

durron597

08-08-2005, 11:10 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I totally agree, now you're on 3BB's and the big stack is next up in the blind, I'm pretty sure it's +EV to push even if they will call with quite a large range..

[/ QUOTE ]

Also the other issue was that I was a little on tilt having 1850 chips and 3 BB left after being up to 7k at one point.

45suited

08-08-2005, 11:10 AM

FWIW, regarding hand 8, I thought about the idea of you pushing pre-flop. Then I remembered that I have had absolutely ZERO success re-raising in these spots the past few days (even with good hands).

I would've just folded pre-flop on hand 8. Sometimes a little patience with the chip lead on the bubble is the best course of action. It's one thing being the first in the pot, but these guys don't seem to fear the bigstack re-raises like they "should".

tigerite

08-08-2005, 11:12 AM

Yes I fold hand 8 too especially as it's the next biggest stack.. I don't want to give him ANY chips that brings him even REMOTELY closer to my stack..

durron597

08-08-2005, 11:15 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes I fold hand 8 too especially as it's the next biggest stack.. I don't want to give him ANY chips that brings him even REMOTELY closer to my stack..

[/ QUOTE ]

That was EXACTLY why I played it like I did. He doesn't want to bubble when there are much shorter stacks than him. I should have realized, though, that he's not folding when he bets half his stack on the flop.

tigerite

08-08-2005, 11:16 AM

Fair enough, but if you want to achieve this, you should probably push preflop, rather than give him the chance to hit the flop, and waste 400.

EnderFFX

08-08-2005, 11:26 AM

I'm going to state the obvious, it looked like you shot yourself in the foot on hand #8. Other then that everything looked standard via the 10BB. Do you ever vary from the 10 BB rule? Just curious, still learning to play the SnG.

Dr_Jeckyl_00

08-08-2005, 11:58 AM

Durron, I get to give you some advice for a change /images/graemlins/wink.gif

I have not read any other reply's yet, so I apologize if there is any redundancy.

IMO...
Hand 8 (57o) - why push? you should have respected his raise, your hand sucks...
Hand 18 (98o) - why call, I thought optimal bubble play is to push in the right spots or fold??? again your hand sucks
Hand 20 (2nd hand 20) (57o) - why play, BB almost has to call and I doubt you have the best hand, b/c again your hand sucks?
Hand 22 - it does not matter what you have b/c your FE is practically gone.

I posted a bubble thread a while back where I was learning about the bubble (still am). So advice I got was once you're in good shape you need to stop risking all of your chips... too much to lose, little to gain... you never adjusted. 2nd point, when you make mistakes early on, you get yourself in trouble later on b/c you become less of a threat (i.e. they learn that you're pushing w/ garbage and you have less chips so they will likely call if their hand is reasonable)... looks like you were tilting a little

tigerite

08-08-2005, 12:02 PM

Hand 8 was T5s. I don't like Hand 18's call but it was to increase the chances of knocking SB out, I guess. Which is fair enough, but I just prefer to let BB get on with it with a marginal hand. Hand 20 is a definite push and is unexploitable even if the BB calls with 100% of hands. ICM it and you'll see, curtains explained this in a post of mine when I folded in a similar situation.

Dr_Jeckyl_00

08-08-2005, 12:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 8 was T5s. I don't like Hand 18's call but it was to increase the chances of knocking SB out, I guess. Which is fair enough, but I just prefer to let BB get on with it with a marginal hand. Hand 20 is a definite push and is unexploitable even if the BB calls with 100% of hands. ICM it and you'll see, curtains explained this in a post of mine when I folded in a similar situation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know how to ICM it, but I don't get why you give away money when you have crap! At some point they make a stand and it is often around 2xbb

freemoney

08-08-2005, 12:07 PM

hand 8 flop is more then fine, pre is bad you dont really wanna play pots keep stealing..

11t

08-08-2005, 12:26 PM

Hand 8 was played pretty poorly imo. You are facing the 2nd stack while sitting on the big stack. There is nobody extremely short so he might not be thinking about folding his way into 3rd. If he is weak-tight typically and the "have to see a flop before I put my chips in" type of player then just push back at him. If he has shown himself to make ridiculous calls in any way though you should just let this hand go.

In hand 18 I say save the 600 chips and let the two stacks race.

Hand 21 is marginal but I tend to fold in situations like these. I would prefer to save myself the 1.5xbb for fold equity in pushing UTG or from the button. In the long term though it is +EV though. It is just that 7 high versus a very probable call is no bueno.

I'd push hand 21 like it was nobody's business though.

I think your mistake in hand 8 though led to this series of events. You got pretty unlucky though.

durron597

08-08-2005, 01:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]

I think your mistake in hand 8 though led to this series of events. You got pretty unlucky though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did manage to reclaim the chip lead after hand 8.

11t

08-08-2005, 01:11 PM

True, but imagine the lead you would have had if you didn't double that one guy up /images/graemlins/blush.gif

Scuba Chuck

08-08-2005, 01:12 PM

I'm only going to comment on the hands I disagree with your play.

Hand 1: fold

Hand 6: I think you should read that Cxxxx knows how to play.

Hand 8: Never call here. I probably fold, but I can definately see pushing as a GREAT alternative. But never call in this situation, you are not interested in seeing a flop with the 2nd stack.

Hand 18: I'm indifferent. Folding/Calling are both fine. If you consider raising, you're likely only risking 200 chips instead of 600 (do you see why? lol).

Hand 20: This is one of those ones where you have decent odds to play any two. I usually fold bottom 50% of hands here, I really don't want to give small stack any life, and leak chips. In fact, this is a very easy fold, IMO.

Hand 21: Since you played the previous hand the way you did, I'd probably push this hand.

Hand 22: S##T Happens...

Final Comment: Durron, when playing the bigstack, you definately want to pick your battles. Restealing from the 2nd stack is one play that is good. But don't leak chips to the baby stack (as he's the most likely to go to war), and pick on the other two. Thanks for posting this HH, it was good to read other peoples play, as it makes me think about my own...

Scuba

ZeroPointMachine

08-08-2005, 02:02 PM

Hand #8 - enough said

Hand #21- I found this leak in a few of my HHs. When you take a hit to a big stack and the next hand is ugly (but clearly +EV) it is harder to pull the trigger. The gut reaction is to want to wait for a safer hand. You feel like the villian is more likely to call you, but the reality is most of the time he still can't.

pooh74

08-08-2005, 02:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I have been on a bad run of late. It's interesting, I'm actually getting better at having a bigger stack earlier but for some reason the part of my game I thought I was good at (the bubble) is now the part giving me the most trouble. So here is an HH of a bubble where there is absolutely no excuse for me to have finished OOTM, and yet I did. Comments on any hand is appreciated, but please give particular attention to hands 8, 18, and 20.

Hand 1:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2220)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t3500)
Button (Axxxx) (t3540)
Hero (t4240)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t4240, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t4315

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t4315. 

Hand 2:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1795)
BB (Cxxxx) (t3475)
UTG (Axxxx) (t3515)
Hero (t4715)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
1 fold, Hero raises to t4715, 2 folds.

Final Pot: t4790

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t4790. 

Hand 3:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1570)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3050)
BB (Axxxx) (t3490)
Hero (t5390)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, A/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
Hero raises to t5390, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t5465

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5465. 

Hand 4:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1545)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2825)
SB (Axxxx) (t3065)
Hero (t6065)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 3/images/graemlins/club.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t1400, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t1475

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t1475. 

Hand 5:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1520)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2800)
Button (Axxxx) (t3540)
Hero (t5640)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A/images/graemlins/club.gif, Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t5640, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t5715

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5715. 

Hand 6:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1095)
BB (Cxxxx) (t2775)
UTG (Axxxx) (t3515)
Hero (t6115)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9/images/graemlins/club.gif, 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
2 folds, SB (Jxxxx) raises to t1070, BB (Cxxxx) calls t670.

Flop: (t1815) 4/images/graemlins/club.gif, 5/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1815) 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1815) 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1815

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 6h 6d (two pair, sixes and fives).
Cxxxx has 3h 2d (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Jxxxx wins t1815. 

Hand 7:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2240)
SB (Cxxxx) (t1680)
BB (Axxxx) (t3490)
Hero (t6090)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
Hero raises to t6090, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t6165

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t6165. 

Hand 8:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t2215)
Button (Cxxxx) (t1455)
SB (Axxxx) (t3065)
Hero (t6765)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t800, Hero calls t400.

Flop: (t1275) T/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 3/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)
Axxxx bets t1200, Hero raises to t5940, Axxxx calls t1040 (All-In).

Turn: (t9455) 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t9455) K/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: t9455

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Qc Js (one pair, jacks).
Hero has 5d Td (one pair, tens).
Outcome: Axxxx wins t5755. Hero wins t3700. 

Hand 9:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2190)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t1430)
Button (Axxxx) (t6180)
Hero (t3700)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3/images/graemlins/club.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t100

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Jxxxx wins t100. 

Hand 10:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t2465)
BB (Cxxxx) (t1405)
UTG (Axxxx) (t6155)
Hero (t3475)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG (Axxxx) calls t400, Hero raises to t3475, 2 folds, UTG (Axxxx) folds.

Final Pot: t3950

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t3950. 

Hand 11:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2240)
SB (Cxxxx) (t980)
BB (Axxxx) (t5730)
Hero (t4550)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with T/images/graemlins/club.gif, 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
2 folds, SB (Cxxxx) raises to t955, BB (Axxxx) calls t555.

Flop: (t1585) 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1585) K/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1585) Q/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1585

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Qd 9d (two pair, queens and sixes).
Cxxxx has Ah Qs (two pair, queens and sixes).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1585. 

Hand 12:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t2215)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2010)
SB (Axxxx) (t4750)
Hero (t4525)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 9/images/graemlins/club.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t200. 

Hand 13:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t2165)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t1960)
Button (Axxxx) (t4400)
Hero (t4975)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t4975, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t5125

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t5125. 

Hand 14:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t1515)
BB (Cxxxx) (t1910)
UTG (Axxxx) (t4350)
Hero (t5725)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/club.gif.
UTG (Axxxx) raises to t1850, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t2000

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t2000. 

Hand 15:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1165)
SB (Cxxxx) (t1260)
BB (Axxxx) (t5400)
Hero (t5675)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 4/images/graemlins/club.gif, 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t200. 

Hand 16:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1115)
Button (Cxxxx) (t910)
SB (Axxxx) (t5850)
Hero (t5625)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif, T/images/graemlins/club.gif.
1 fold, Button (Cxxxx) raises to t860, 1 fold, Hero calls t260.

Flop: (t1270) J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 4/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 5/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t1270) K/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 players)

River: (t1270) K/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t1270

Results in white below: 
Cxxxx has 6d As (one pair, kings).
Hero has 8h Tc (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1270. 

Hand 17:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1065)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2220)
Button (Axxxx) (t5500)
Hero (t4715)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG (Cxxxx) raises to t1250, 3 folds.

Final Pot: t1400

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Cxxxx wins t1400. 

Hand 18:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t415)
BB (Cxxxx) (t3270)
UTG (Axxxx) (t5450)
Hero (t4365)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
1 fold, Hero calls t600, SB (Jxxxx) completes t65 (All-In), BB (Cxxxx) checks.

Flop: (t1415) A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif, A/images/graemlins/club.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

Turn: (t1415) T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

River: (t1415) A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (3 players, 1 all-in)
Cxxxx checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: t1415

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 9d Ah (four of a kind, aces).
Cxxxx has Ks Jh (three of a kind, aces).
Hero has 9h 8d (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: Cxxxx wins t1020. Jxxxx wins t395. 

Hand 19:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t1295)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3090)
BB (Axxxx) (t5400)
Hero (t3715)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t200. 

Hand 20:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

UTG (Jxxxx) (t1245)
Button (Cxxxx) (t2740)
SB (Axxxx) (t5850)
Hero (t3665)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
2 folds, SB (Axxxx) raises to t1250, 1 fold.

Final Pot: t1400

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Axxxx wins t1400. 

Hand 20:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

BB (Jxxxx) (t1195)
UTG (Cxxxx) (t2690)
Button (Axxxx) (t6600)
Hero (t3015)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif.
2 folds, Hero raises to t1200, BB (Jxxxx) calls t545 (All-In).

Flop: (t1895) 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 8/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t1895) K/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t1895) 4/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: t1895

Results in white below: 
Jxxxx has 6s Ah (high card, ace).
Hero has 5h 7c (high card, king).
Outcome: Jxxxx wins t1290. Hero wins t605. 

Hand 21:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

SB (Jxxxx) (t2490)
BB (Cxxxx) (t2640)
UTG (Axxxx) (t6550)
Hero (t1820)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
3 folds.

Final Pot: t200

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Cxxxx wins t200. 

Hand 22:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (4 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Button (Jxxxx) (t2140)
SB (Cxxxx) (t3090)
BB (Axxxx) (t6500)
Hero (t1770)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9/images/graemlins/club.gif, A/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
Hero raises to t1720, 2 folds, BB (Axxxx) calls t1120.

Flop: (t2990) K/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif, 4/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 players)

Turn: (t2990) 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)

River: (t2990) 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)

Final Pot: t2990

Results in white below: 
Axxxx has Ac Qd (high card, ace).
Hero has 9c As (high card, ace).
Outcome: Axxxx wins t2990. 

[/ QUOTE ]

Durron...I havent read all of the replies so ignore this if it has been discussed and/or is obvious.

You're very agressive play at the beginning was dictated a lot by your premium holdings...but the other players had no chance to find out. The first hand you show down is the 5T and I liked the reraise all-in, but remember, now your opponents know you could be raising with ANYTHING if you reraised with 5T...they dont know or understand what is happening.

Once that play occurs, you have to lay off a little and be more selectively aggressive.

The perception of you was key here...