have i lost the plot or is this the obvious move?

asswasp · #1 05-29-2005, 08:01 PM

I think this is a simple hand, but I've had a terrible run playing 6-seat tournaments recently so I've started doubting my abilities:

$50 6-player tournament (top 2 spots pay 65%/35%) down to 4-handed with 50/100 blinds. I have 2200, villan has 2700. Blinds have about 3500 each and are playing very tight. I raise to 400 utg with 8c9c. Villan (button) thinks for a while then calls, blinds fold. 950 in the pot. Flop comes Qc Tc 5s, I go all-in for 1800.

I almost want a call because I want those extra chips. My reasoning is that (a) all-in on the flop is hard to call if he's missed it (though high cards make this a bit dubious), (b) if he calls I'm unlikely to end up drawing dead, (c) I want a stack of 4550 chips, (d) winning will cripple this player (he'll have 500 left) and quickly make it 3-handed.

Or I could go out in 4th place.

asswasp · #2 05-30-2005, 04:33 PM

Is this the right move?

NYCNative · #3 05-30-2005, 04:36 PM

It's called a semi-bluff and yes, I like this play at this time.

Bigwig · #4 05-30-2005, 04:50 PM

The question isn't the all-in on the flop move--that's fine. 98s is okay to steal with, although much less so in the CO. That's because if you're playing against the button, you're out of position. I hate being out of position with suited connectors, especially in a raised pot, because it's like 95% that you're behind.

asswasp · #5 05-30-2005, 05:07 PM

Thanks, I know it's a semibluff, just wondering whether it was worth it based on chips etc. I guess as a short-stack I'm unlikely to get a better opportunity than this.

asswasp · #6 05-30-2005, 05:13 PM

I doubt you're behind 95% of the time, even if you are the button has probably missed and a flop bet will usually get rid of him. However that's big stack strategy and I don't have a big stack in this hand. I think that's the reason this hand didn't feel right, although I realise now that it's still correct as a short-stack.