Stealing the blinds with a mediocre hand

[jacki]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (7 handed) converter

7 left in a 2-table SNG on PokerStars.

SB (t3847)
BB (t785)
UTG (t6150)
MP1 (t4510)
JACKI (t3060)
CO (t4445)
Button (t4203)

Preflop: JACKI is MP2 with T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, MP1 folds, JACKI raises to t300, CO folds, Button folds, SB calls t250, BB folds.

Flop: (t700) 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, JACKI bets t600, SB raises to t1200, JACKI raises to t2760, SB calls t1560.

Results and comments in white below: <font color="white">
About the preflop play: I had stolen my share of blinds, but I hadn't been overly ridiculous. SB was a bit loose, but not when it was raised preflop.
I thought I could take the blinds here, or get away easily if the flop didn't hit me.
After the flop: Any way you don't get all of your chips in if possible?

SB shows 2s Js (flush, ace high).
JACKI shows Ts 8s (flush, ace high).
Outcome: SB wins t6220. </font>

[AStrauss]

I think the first half of your play was great, and of course, it had an unfortuante outcome. SB as I'm sure you know, is one of the best places to bluff, **but how do you buff when it's just a call?!** Anyhow, the bottom line really is that you got lucky, and SB got really lucky.

You played it out poorly because you didn't read right away with the re-raises that he had at least one very high spade. I would have dumped and tried to at least sail into 4th where you win at least your entry fee back... What was the buy-in again?

[jacki]

[ QUOTE ]
What was the buy-in again?

[/ QUOTE ]
$10+1

[slogger]

[ QUOTE ]
You played it out poorly because you didn't read right away with the re-raises that he had at least one very high spade. I would have dumped and tried to at least sail into 4th where you win at least your entry fee back.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, no offense, man, but I call bullsh*t. First of all, on your assertion that you would have folded it. Second, on your advice of folding a flopped 4th nut flush heads up to a mini-raise from a SB coldcaller. This would be a terrible decision.

I understand the basics of bubble play and I know that there are special considerations when you have a chance to fold into the money, but a flopped flush heads up is not one of them.

[patrick dicaprio]

i agree one hundred percent and for anyone to say you should fold here is crazy. for one thing there is an A on board and since players will play any ace why cant the opponent have just two pair? That is more likely than a flush.

Pat

[USCUNC]

on pStars 4th = $0 . Got to be 3rd of 9 players

[Ritter]

Someday I hope I could have the dicipline to fold to the re-raise from the SB, but I'm sure not there yet - particularly at less than a full table.

Even if he had only 1 bigger spade, I would have reasoned with 2 of the spades in my hand, it was still worth going for imho - you had to win a hand to get into the top 4 at some point (you were only 1 seat off the bubble anyway)and you flopped what you were hoping to flop.

Just because you walked out the door and had an anvil fall on your head dosen't mean you should have stayed home...

With that said, you've hit on one of the biggest leaks in my own game, which is to either a) attempt a steal and get smooth called with a sub-standard hand as you did or b) see the flop for free in the big blind and catch enough of the flop to get me in trouble and not be able to let it go. Usually I bleed with less of hand than you flopped though...

[fnurt]

Discipline is not the word you are looking for. Folding a flopped flush to a single raise is inconceivable. This was just a tough break.

[jacki]

[ QUOTE ]
Someday I hope I could have the dicipline to fold to the re-raise from the SB,

[/ QUOTE ]

If I ever fold a flopped flush to a check-min-raise, call the guys in the white coats to come get me.

[Ritter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Someday I hope I could have the dicipline to fold to the re-raise from the SB,

[/ QUOTE ]

If I ever fold a flopped flush to a check-min-raise, call the guys in the white coats to come get me.

[/ QUOTE ]

To clarify: Someday I hope I could have the zen-like, superhuman, "I'm cooler than Neo in the matrix", ability to recognise when I have flopped the second best flush and make a correct fold each and every time... Being somewhat below that level of accomplishment, I'm pushing/check-pushing/calling every damn time...

Trying to get better one hand at a time. Peace, Ritter