Small buy-in specialists needed

[Snarf]

So...my online fund is broke and now I am exclusively playing the $5s on Stars.

I have a basic philosophy question here:

I play a lot of hands different early in tourneys than I think is 'proper play.' My logic is the 'donkey factor.'

Basically...I figure an approximate % in my head that unknown player holds a donkey holding vs. the holding he is REALLY representing with all the betting action going on.

Sometimes I look like a genius with awesome reading capabilities...Sometimes I look like the donkey...

I know this raises my variance some...but as a general philosophy - what do you guys think of this?

Some classic examples would be going to bat with mediocre over-pairs unimproved after a couple raises or going to bat with TPTK or the low end of a four card straight...etc...

I, of course, am very capable of laying good, made hands down...so that is not the issue here. I just see so much donking it up that I am trying to adjust for the times that donks make donk plays/bets.

How much do you guys adjust? Have I gone too far?

don't like it at all... calling a raise with A6 in EP is -EV plain and simple.

keep playing tight early and the donks will make mistakes and eliminate themselves

[zambonidrivr]

I play a lot of hands different early in tourneys than I think is 'proper play.' My logic is the 'donkey factor.'

Basically...I figure an approximate % in my head that unknown player holds a donkey holding vs. the holding he is REALLY representing with all the betting action going on.


These statements lead me to believe you are a donkey

Don't lose sight of the objective of a SNG: to be the last person at the table with chips. You don't have to pick off every bluff or maximize chips won on every hand to win a SNG.

[ QUOTE ]
I play a lot of hands different early in tourneys than I think is 'proper play.' My logic is the 'donkey factor.'

Basically...I figure an approximate % in my head that unknown player holds a donkey holding vs. the holding he is REALLY representing with all the betting action going on.


These statements lead me to believe you are a donkey

[/ QUOTE ]You mean this didn't convince you:

"So...my online fund is broke and now I am exclusively playing the $5s on Stars."

[ QUOTE ]



These statements lead me to believe you are a donkey

[/ QUOTE ]

most absolutely

you don't have to call every potential bluff (based on your % in your head). just play SMART poker.

[bones]

The key to beating the $5 on stars is playing on your girlfriends account.



Bones, who is borrowing Yugo's signature because it's likely he'll be the only one who gets this joke.

[Jbrochu]

[ QUOTE ]
Basically...I figure an approximate % in my head that unknown player holds a donkey holding vs. the holding he is REALLY representing with all the betting action going on.

[/ QUOTE ]

In general, donks are not trying to represent hands or doing any other such advanced level thinking. It's much easier to just not worry about getting bluffed off mediocre holdings once in a while. At the small buy-ins the typical donk will pay off your legimate monster hands anyway, even if you've been a rock to that point.





[ QUOTE ]
I, of course, am very capable of laying good, made hands down...so that is not the issue here. I just see so much donking it up that I am trying to adjust for the times that donks make donk plays/bets.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rather than trying to catch donk plays with your mediocre holdings, I think you would be better off with a strategy of almost never laying down strong holdings unless you have a very good read on your opponent.

Disclaimer - I'm not a specialist (at any buy-in).

[Snarf]

its worth noting my account is broke for other reasons than than the questions put forth in this topic.

I ran into a horrible variance down-swing accompanied by some frustration/tilt over not understanding downswings or bankroll management. Flopped sets vs. rivered higher sets. Flopped straights vs. runner runner full houses...etc... Since I was playing too high - I lost a good % of my bankroll in half a dozen specific hands of outdraws...Thats when I really strated combing 2+2 and discovered - GASP - bankroll management. It turns my problem was mainly that I was playing too high. So - now I play the $5s until I can build back up. Gotta play somewhere.

[kevstreet]

I don't think you need to get tricky at this level. Play ABC poker and take advantage of the donks at bubble time.

If you're playing a lot of games, I'd move up from the $5s as soon as possible.

[Snarf]

Just to be clear - I don't play totally dumb. (calling A6 oop as suggested..) But the question is how much do you adjust down? For instance...I usually fold AJ/A10 to raises - but call here 50% or more at the 5s. I'll usually fold TPTK or unimproved over pairs after a couple raises, but might go to the floor with it at the 5s.

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Rather than trying to catch donk plays with your mediocre holdings, I think you would be better off with a strategy of almost never laying down strong holdings unless you have a very good read on your opponent.
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Right - that makes a lot of sense...but I guess maybe my question SHOULD HAVE been - do you change your definition of 'strong holding' when playing a possible donk?

(Early w/no reads yet.) is TP good enough? TPTK? bottom two? etc...

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do you change your definition of 'strong holding' when playing a possible donk?

[/ QUOTE ]Three of a kind beats two pair, even in the low buy-in events.

[Jbrochu]

[ QUOTE ]
Right - that makes a lot of sense...but I guess maybe my question SHOULD HAVE been - do you change your definition of 'strong holding' when playing a possible donk?

(Early w/no reads yet.) is TP good enough? TPTK? bottom two? etc...

[/ QUOTE ]

Early on, even at small buy-ins, I'm not usually risking significant chips with TP weak K. I probably take a shot at the pot and if called, go into check calling mode (depending on the texture of the flop, possible draws, betting to that point, yada yada yada) if I think there is a reasonable chance I have the best hand. This is where learning to control the size of the pot can really help.

Conversly, I will often get all my chips in with TPTK at low buy-in SnG events and require a very strong read to lay it down. Not enough time in these events to throw away strong hands.