Empire $200k, on the bubble, play or not?

lacky · #1 02-28-2005, 02:11 AM

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t800 (9 handed) converter

UTG (t9280)
UTG+1 (t2156)
MP1 (t7460)
MP2 (t19565)
MP3 (t3954)
CO (t5452)
Button (t10216)
Hero (t2018)
BB (t10225)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
5 folds, CO raises to t2000, 1 fold, Hero raises all-in t2018, BB calls t1018, CO calls t18.

Flop: (t4236) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB bets t1500, CO calls t1500.

Turn: (t7236) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
CO folds.

River: (t7236) 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: t7236

Results in white below: 
BB has Kh Jh (flush, king high).
Hero has Ac Ks (two pair, aces and eights).
Outcome: BB wins t7236. 

so, finished 61, 60 payed $800, never been in that situation before, need some advice.

Steve

2005 · #2 02-28-2005, 02:20 AM

Well, the way you were playing before that hand, I thought you had at least KK. I think you have to decide whether you're playing for the money or to win. It seemed like you were playing for the money, so I think you probably should have folded. If you were playing for the win, you would have found a hand a while before that and not let yourself get that short. As it is, tough luck, work on your MTT game and you could be pretty good. This is a good place to learn.

Gavin

lacky · #3 02-28-2005, 02:30 AM

I went 40 or 50 hands with nothing better than Q6, 87, etc, so I had decided to just make the money rather than push crap, then hit the only decent hand I'd seen with horrible timing. Even the blind steal agianst u was with A6, then nothing even that good came. Should I have pushed with trash and hoped? I really didnt know so I was basically on the fence waiting for something decent for the last hour, then finally got it and prob should have mucked it. grrr

Steve

Che · #4 02-28-2005, 02:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I went 40 or 50 hands with nothing better than Q6, 87, etc, so I had decided to just make the money rather than push crap,

[/ QUOTE ]

If the 87 was suited, it would have been a good hand for pushing from LP with around 5 BB's (i.e. when you still had folding equity).

lacky · #5 02-28-2005, 02:44 AM

I was utg+1, still though about it, but too many active big stacks behind me I decided.

Bernas · #6 02-28-2005, 11:33 AM

It's not about having a hand. It's about having position. If it were folded to you in late position try stealing with any 2. You can't wait for a hand or the Blinds will eat away at your stack.

Paul2432 · #7 02-28-2005, 10:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I think you have to decide whether you're playing for the money or to win.

[/ QUOTE ]

Play to maximize EV. Sometimes that means hanging on for the money. Other times it means going for the win. It all depends on the situation.

I think MicroBob gave a nice analysis of the EV of the situation.

Paul

2005 · #8 02-28-2005, 12:55 PM

I understand that sometimes you are going to play just to make the money. What I meant by this is that lacky's play was inconsistent. He was folding every hand when he had a chance to win chips, but when there was no fold equity and he was about to move past the blinds and almost be guaranteed a payday, he decided to call all in. There was seriously a guy with 186 chips in the tournament at this time. I have no problem with playing just to make the money and I've done it before when I was desperate like this, but his play was very inconsistent.

Gavin

Che · #9 02-28-2005, 02:35 AM

Reason to fold: You've got to make the top 20 to double the $800 you're about to pick up by folding.

Reason to call: Win this and you've got 2/3 of the average stack so one more big hand will put you in contention for the whole enchilada.

So, if you don't mind busting out 40% of the time and missing out on a sure $800, then play. Otherwise, fold.

Later,
Che

lacky · #10 02-28-2005, 02:42 AM

well, I know playing for the win at all times is correct (or at least I think I know that, that could be wrong too I guess) If I had had the same hand and busted 70th i wouldn't think twice about it, 61 has me pissed beyond any normal amount i should be.

I'm also running a good fever right now so I may not be entirely sane [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Steve