Horrible play or nice play back at the stealer

vandalay · #1 07-19-2005, 11:58 PM

3rd hour into a PP tourney... Since I have been at this table, the person OTB has stolen my blinds 2 out of 2 times when the hand comes up.

Once again, while he is on the button he raises to 3.5BB (same as last 2 times). He is the big stack at the table (15k or so), I have 8k or so... blinds at 200/400.

He raises to 1400 on the button. I am delt the 9c10c suited connector.

What is your move?

I decided to raise to 4000, showing him that I was commited to the hand and he should back down.

He reraised all in and of course, getting 3 to 1 on my call, I made it....

He showed AJo....

Should I have continued to let him steal is my question?

vandalay · #2 07-20-2005, 12:14 AM

PS: I was convinced I would be behind, but thought my cards were live. Also the last 2 days I have played in this 34k garenteed, I have finished in the 60-100 range and another 50 bucks doesnt do it for me, so folding myself into the money is not an issue.

vipchump · #3 07-20-2005, 12:39 AM

If you are going to raise to 4k, I would just push.

I approve of the playing back at him. Too bad he had hand.

PorscheNGuns · #4 07-20-2005, 01:06 AM

I think if you are gonna get pot committed anyways, just push. This atleast has a better chance to knock out hands like AJo while still sending the message not to steal your blinds.

-Matt

Lloyd · #5 07-20-2005, 01:22 AM

Nothing wrong with taking a stand with a suited connector if you think he's stealing. And I agree with the others that if you're going to make it 4000 (half your stack) you should just push.

WSOPstar2B · #6 07-20-2005, 01:37 AM

What about just calling then either pushing at the flop or check folding? Opinions please.

PorscheNGuns · #7 07-20-2005, 01:45 AM

Youre out of position and chances are pretty small that you'd catch a good flop. In the vast majority of flops you would either have to check/fold which makes you look even weaker, or a huge bluff which could ruin your tourney right then and there. If you did happen to catch a great flop with your T9, would you get paid off for it?

-Matt

SoBeDude · #8 07-20-2005, 02:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Youre out of position and chances are pretty small that you'd catch a good flop. In the vast majority of flops you would either have to check/fold which makes you look even weaker, or a huge bluff which could ruin your tourney right then and there. If you did happen to catch a great flop with your T9, would you get paid off for it?

-Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

This is wrong thinking. you don't need to check fold if you miss the flop. remember that the villian will miss the flop as often as you will, so you can push with absolutely nothing and many many times villian will fold.

And a hand like T9s can sneak up on people, it makes some nice hands that oppoents will often pay off.

So in this spot against someone you *think* is raising light, I often just like a call with a decent hand. On the flop you can decide what to do. I'll often push any flop without an ace or a king, you'll be suprised how often this takes down the pot.

Remember that many people won't lay down a hand like AJ preflop, but will frequently fold to a flop push if they missed.

So in this spot, I'd just call and look at the flop. If I flop a big hand, I'll slowplay. If I flop a draw I'll check-raise push. If I missed the flop but the flop has no Ace (and maybe no king), I'll push.

-Scott

Lloyd · #9 07-20-2005, 01:46 AM

[ QUOTE ]
What about just calling then either pushing at the flop or check folding? Opinions please.

[/ QUOTE ]
You don't have odds to play this type of hand like you normally do earlier in a tournament. By not raising you're given him a free opportunity to see a flop with perhaps a steal type of hand which connects just as often as broadway cards. You have enough folding equity that he should fold marginal hands making a stop-and-go unnecessary. You're making a statement not to raise your blinds. Calling (even if you push the flop) doesn't quite send the same message as pushing pre-flop.

vandalay · #10 07-20-2005, 11:10 AM

Your right, I made it incorrect to do the stop and go.

My thinking was that he misses over 1/2 the time, so he has two chances to fold and I know Im going to war.

The reraise SCREAMED high pair (if not, how would you play AA in the same situation, you wouldnt push 6500 into a 2000 pot).

Even if he didnt push, after the flop there would be 8k in the pot, and my 4k push would give him 3:1 which he would probably call with a missed draw.

As it came out, it didnt matter, flop was 9 high, I would have pushed anyway and if he called then I was out when the jack came on the river!!!

Thanks
-VI

PS: With the same setup, how would people play AA. My goal is how to take advantage of the GOOD players who think, but I doubt the stealer was going away with AJ no matter what.