Wierd or standard play here?

hurlyburly · #1 05-02-2005, 11:20 PM

Working on my mid-tourny aggression:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (9 handed) converter

CO (t24521)
Button (t25549)
SB (t8150)
BB (t13054)
UTG (t34414)
UTG+1 (t7610)
MP1 (t22366)
MP2 (t16040)
Hero (t7405)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
2 folds, MP1 calls t400, 1 fold, Hero raises to t1200, CO calls t1200, 3 folds, MP1 calls t800.

Hate that I let this go 3 ways, bad raise preflop? Didn't like the immediate call by CO

Flop: (t3800) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets t1600, CO calls t1600, MP1 folds.

2k-2400 better here?

Turn: (t7000) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets t4580 (All-In), CO calls t4580.

Usually wimp out decided to trust my instincts. Smart, dumb?

River: (t16160) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: t16160

Felt fishy when he called, but he was chasing the flush with the Js and MHIG. Was turn push fishy anyway?

Roman · #2 05-02-2005, 11:45 PM

looks fine, maybe make it 1600 pf.

Lurshy · #3 05-03-2005, 11:23 AM

I don't like the small flop bet. With 4200 in the Pot, why give odds to the flush draw, or pairs to chase? 1600 isn't going to get anyone out that got a piece. Given your stack size, I push this flop.

hurlyburly · #4 05-03-2005, 12:03 PM

That's what I always do. This was an experiment.

I'm trying to find ways to avoid being all-in so much or relying on bluffs and semi-bluffs in the mid-game and still build my stack. That may be a stupid goal, but I hate feeling like it has to be my lucky day everytime I pull down a win.

Ironically, I busted out about 50 hands after this when a monster stack put me all in after I made a 2.5xBB raise UTG with KK, so my strategy backfired by opening the door to being outdrawn (I'm sure pushing first at that stage would have gotten him to lay down, while inviting calls from stronger hands that might have paid me off).

Still struggling with the mid-game...

Lurshy · #5 05-03-2005, 02:39 PM

I Reread it, and I still don't like it. You gave the flush draw a chance to get there, it gets there, and you push. Usually a call has you beat, it is rare that a pair of queens will pay you, and if the draw calls, thats ok...

You saw this happen in the hand that busted you.

If you don't want to push it fine, but be prepared to lay down, and not pay off when the scare card comes. Instead of pushing, throw out a small 'blocking' bet on the scare card, not a push. Fold to a reraise. If he is scared of the flush also, the small bet may be enough to buy the pot.

If he calls, be careful, but I may throw out another small bet on the river, while folding to a reraise. Again, a smaller pair may pay you off, a flush reraises, a missed redraw usually folds, but may occasionaly bluff and buy the pot. Of course if you have position, you can check or call a small bet in front of you.

I still like the flop push, but if you are looking for alternatives, the above is a suggestion...

hurlyburly · #6 05-03-2005, 02:57 PM

Thanks. I didn't like the way I played it either.

Looks like pushing the flop was clearly the best play in this spot, but I'll try those other plays if I can find a similar spot with a deeper stack. I wouldn't have dicked around here if I had 2 red kings, so the Ks shouldn't have been a factor.