How much EV is enough?

[JP Rocks]

I'm writing this after three spectacular beats in a row in the stars $11 MTT (no rebuys). I managed to call all in with the best hand each time against someone who had me covered, only to find myself sent to the virtual rail. (TT v AA on a Txx flop, A, x; AA v KTo preflop, Qxx, A, J; KK v AKo preflop, xxx, x, A). Each of these times, I had a slightly above average stack, and had played conservatively thus far.

My question is this: How big of an advatage do you guys need to call for all your chips in the first hour of a low buy in tourney like this? Usually, I need to decide that I am at least ~70% favorite to call for all my chips, and as such I was pretty happy with how each of those hands went (without being results orientated). Should I be more cautious about getting all in (preflop especially) in the early stages of a low limit tourney like this against opponents who have me covered, or is this just a bad beat post?

[BAD BEAT POLICE]

People have one of two reactions to your bad beat story:

1. They don't care
2. They are happy

Please tell your bad beat story to someone who cares. www.riveredagain.com

Thank you, come again.


-BBP [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[z32fanatic]

I would refrain from getting it all in preflop with AA or KK, or getting it all in with top set in a raised pot against people who have me covered. I mean what good could come of that? The bottom line is you got outplayed in each of these situations. Work on your tournament game and this won't happen as much.

[TomHimself]

Sometimes you know your beat and you gotta lay it down

[SossMan]

I agree. Especially if they have you covered. If someone can put my tournament life at risk, I'm going to make sure I have not just the nuts, but the nuts on the river.

[KingMedicine]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree. Especially if they have you covered. If someone can put my tournament life at risk, I'm going to make sure I have not just the nuts, but the nuts on the river.

[/ QUOTE ]

or pocket purple horseshoes.

[JP Rocks]

Youre right, too results orientated. Put this thread down to some form of tilt...

Love those purple horsehoes.

[TomHimself]

It's time to get out of the kiddie pool and start making moves

[JP Rocks]

Now thats sarcasm!

My question still stands unanswered- After about 1 hour of a $11 freezeout, with an average stack, how big an advantage do you need to put your tournament on the line preflop or on the flop? 70%? 85%? The stone cold nuts? Am I delving too deep into the weak tight quagmire by even asking this question?

I mainly play sngs, where this would be a moot point. However, in a MTT where you have longer and slower blinds, and no short handed play, you dont get forced into taking risks when you are a small favorite or even a small dog. But what is the break point for you between small favorite and big enough favorite to put it all on the line?

[ansky451]

[ QUOTE ]
Usually, I need to decide that I am at least ~70% favorite to call for all my chips,

[/ QUOTE ]


You need to seriously rethink your understanding of tournament poker-- especially online tournaments. You aren't Phil Hellmuth.

If you are talking about a large 10 dollar multi with an overall pretty bad structure, just about any edge should be good enough (especially with short stacks late on), unless you are miles ahead of your opponents in skill (which you aren't judging from this post).