FloppedFlush
03-31-2004, 06:40 PM
Thanks for welcoming me last night. Since you encouraged me to make some posts as I try to improve my game, here's a few hands which were instrumental in knocking me down from a comfortable chip lead to going out in 4th that I'll open up for any comments.
Hand 1
5 players left blinds; 200/400 with 25 ante
I have T14,565, everyone else has between T2,000-4,000.
Folded to me on the button with 9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif8 /images/graemlins/spade.gif, I raise to T1,200. I've been playing pretty tight and the majority of my raises have simply taken down the blinds, although I did fold TT a few cycles earlier when I had fewer chips and KURN went all-in over the top.
Here, KURN goes all-in from the small blind. He started with T3,925, so it's T2,700 more for me to call. I figure I'm getting about 2-1 on my money if I call (adding it up more exactly after the fact, I get 5,625/2,700=2.08:1)
I decide to call thinking that the pot odds are plenty good enough unless he has a pair of 8's or better, and even if he does have an overpair, I've got the type of hand that fares least poorly against a big pair.
Result: KURN has KT and I don't get lucky.
HAND 2
A few hands later, still 5 players, I have T10,165 in the big blind after posting the blind and ante. Folded to Ruddiger in the small blind who moves all-in for a total of T2,405. I have A /images/graemlins/club.gif7 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif and call. I think with a raise from the small blind, I'm probably ahead at least as often as I'm behind, but I think one of my major problems is a willingness to gamble in marginal situations where it's not really necessary. So just a reality check - is this an OK call?
HAND 3
We're now down to 4; blinds are 300/600 with T50 ante
KURN has built a nice chip lead with T11,600. The rest of us are pretty close. I have T4,810 and the other two stacks are T5,980 and T4,610.
Folded to me on the button and I move all-in with A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif. KURN calls with A /images/graemlins/heart.gifT /images/graemlins/heart.gifand I'm done.
I think this was my biggest mistake of the night. I justified it at the time by saying that I was playing the percentages and with two random hands behind me, my ace-high was probably the best of the three. The problem is that any time I get called, I'm most likely dominated. At other SNGs, there might be people who call all-ins with KJ, but I don't think there were any in this tournament. So if I get called, I'm going to have either one overcard against a pair, or be dominated by a better ace. So if I'm going to try to steal the blinds, I'd be better off doing it with a hand like 96 where at least both of my cards are likely to be live if I get called.
Anyway, thanks for your comments. I hope to play and post more in the future.
FloppedFlush
Hand 1
5 players left blinds; 200/400 with 25 ante
I have T14,565, everyone else has between T2,000-4,000.
Folded to me on the button with 9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif8 /images/graemlins/spade.gif, I raise to T1,200. I've been playing pretty tight and the majority of my raises have simply taken down the blinds, although I did fold TT a few cycles earlier when I had fewer chips and KURN went all-in over the top.
Here, KURN goes all-in from the small blind. He started with T3,925, so it's T2,700 more for me to call. I figure I'm getting about 2-1 on my money if I call (adding it up more exactly after the fact, I get 5,625/2,700=2.08:1)
I decide to call thinking that the pot odds are plenty good enough unless he has a pair of 8's or better, and even if he does have an overpair, I've got the type of hand that fares least poorly against a big pair.
Result: KURN has KT and I don't get lucky.
HAND 2
A few hands later, still 5 players, I have T10,165 in the big blind after posting the blind and ante. Folded to Ruddiger in the small blind who moves all-in for a total of T2,405. I have A /images/graemlins/club.gif7 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif and call. I think with a raise from the small blind, I'm probably ahead at least as often as I'm behind, but I think one of my major problems is a willingness to gamble in marginal situations where it's not really necessary. So just a reality check - is this an OK call?
HAND 3
We're now down to 4; blinds are 300/600 with T50 ante
KURN has built a nice chip lead with T11,600. The rest of us are pretty close. I have T4,810 and the other two stacks are T5,980 and T4,610.
Folded to me on the button and I move all-in with A /images/graemlins/diamond.gif3 /images/graemlins/heart.gif. KURN calls with A /images/graemlins/heart.gifT /images/graemlins/heart.gifand I'm done.
I think this was my biggest mistake of the night. I justified it at the time by saying that I was playing the percentages and with two random hands behind me, my ace-high was probably the best of the three. The problem is that any time I get called, I'm most likely dominated. At other SNGs, there might be people who call all-ins with KJ, but I don't think there were any in this tournament. So if I get called, I'm going to have either one overcard against a pair, or be dominated by a better ace. So if I'm going to try to steal the blinds, I'd be better off doing it with a hand like 96 where at least both of my cards are likely to be live if I get called.
Anyway, thanks for your comments. I hope to play and post more in the future.
FloppedFlush