Toro
06-25-2003, 01:34 PM
Last night at FW I had two game situations which at first blush look identical but upon further examination were really totally different. I made the same play in both instances and despite being told by a few observers that I played them both correctly, I don't agree.
I was fortunate enough last night to make it to the final 2 players in two of FW's Act II single table satellites. The winner gets a free entry into an Act III, $1060 buy-in satellite which gives away seats for FW's big $10,000.00 buy-in no limit holdem tourney this fall that will also be a stop on the World Poker Tour.
In both hands we had what was an almost identical situation where I called an all-in bet with a small pocket pair, sixes in the 1st satellite, fives in the second satellite. But here are the factors that made calling one a bad call and the other a good call imho.
1st Satellite: Opponent: Not well known but seemed like a very straight-forward non tricky, non bluffing player who played the typical premium hands. Chip Stacks: Me 10,400T Opponent 9,800. Betting Sequence: With me on the SB/button and blinds 400/800 I raise to 2400T with 6,6. My opponent reraises all-in. I don't know exactly why but I put him on AK where I'd be a small favorite. Anyway I called and he turned over AK suited and made a flush on the river. Not just playing the results, I think I should have folded and waited for a better spot since this hand left me crippled and I ended up losing the satellite.
2nd Satellite: Loose, aggressive player very capable of bluffing. Chip Stacks: Me 13000T Opponent 7000T. Betting sequence: Blinds 1000/2000 but this time I'm in the BB and he pushes all-in. I call with my pocket fives. I think this one was a good call because a)This very well could have been a bluff and b) the size of the blind c) this was a raise and not a reraise and d)If I lost the hand I would still have enough chips to stage a comeback. He had a K,2 offsuit and the suspense was gone when I flopped a 5 for the set to win the seat.
So when in the magazine articles the columnists are asked how to play in certain situations and they say "well, it depends", I know what they mean. Comments welcome and appreciated.
I was fortunate enough last night to make it to the final 2 players in two of FW's Act II single table satellites. The winner gets a free entry into an Act III, $1060 buy-in satellite which gives away seats for FW's big $10,000.00 buy-in no limit holdem tourney this fall that will also be a stop on the World Poker Tour.
In both hands we had what was an almost identical situation where I called an all-in bet with a small pocket pair, sixes in the 1st satellite, fives in the second satellite. But here are the factors that made calling one a bad call and the other a good call imho.
1st Satellite: Opponent: Not well known but seemed like a very straight-forward non tricky, non bluffing player who played the typical premium hands. Chip Stacks: Me 10,400T Opponent 9,800. Betting Sequence: With me on the SB/button and blinds 400/800 I raise to 2400T with 6,6. My opponent reraises all-in. I don't know exactly why but I put him on AK where I'd be a small favorite. Anyway I called and he turned over AK suited and made a flush on the river. Not just playing the results, I think I should have folded and waited for a better spot since this hand left me crippled and I ended up losing the satellite.
2nd Satellite: Loose, aggressive player very capable of bluffing. Chip Stacks: Me 13000T Opponent 7000T. Betting sequence: Blinds 1000/2000 but this time I'm in the BB and he pushes all-in. I call with my pocket fives. I think this one was a good call because a)This very well could have been a bluff and b) the size of the blind c) this was a raise and not a reraise and d)If I lost the hand I would still have enough chips to stage a comeback. He had a K,2 offsuit and the suspense was gone when I flopped a 5 for the set to win the seat.
So when in the magazine articles the columnists are asked how to play in certain situations and they say "well, it depends", I know what they mean. Comments welcome and appreciated.