$125 NL Tourney - Near the Bubble - Tough Call

[fnurt]

Because the miniraise gives the BB 3.5:1 odds on the call, it makes his life a lot easier. He can call with a much wider range of hands, particularly because he has a big stack. This in turn makes it a lot harder for you to know where you're at on the flop.

It's possible you know this BB well enough to know that he would not pick up on this, but many players will call a miniraise more liberally.

You didn't mention just how big a stack the chip leader had. If his stack was so big that you'll need to raise all-in just to give him something to worry about (and maybe not even then), you might be better off just waiting for someone else's big blind to steal on.

[Any Two Suited]

Well, at the break, when I approached him about the hand, he thought for awhile, seeming to try to remember it accurately, and then said "Ah yes ... I had JT-suited. Flopped an open-ender. Didn't think you'd call, but would have been ok with it if you had."

Though I agree with the caveats on trusting these types of statements, his reply seemed honest enough for me.

I have to say that I agree with the general sentiment that my approach on the steal, particularly the attempt itself against a big stack in the BB - even if he was playing very tight - was ill-concieved.

Thanks again to all for the replies.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

The original raise is fine. On the flop I wouldn't even think about calling.

al

[TheGrifter]

Al - You like putting in 50% of your chips preflop in a bubble situation with an easily dominated hand?

[woodguy]

FWIW I think your raise and then lay down was fine, but I'm a little confused.
I know you mentioned that the chip leader wasn't interested in playing sheriff, but why would you try to steal against him when you are so close to the cash?
I would pick a different target, rather than one who could bust me for fun.
regards,
woodguy

[Any Two Suited]

[ QUOTE ]
FWIW I think your raise and then lay down was fine, but I'm a little confused.
I know you mentioned that the chip leader wasn't interested in playing sheriff, but why would you try to steal against him when you are so close to the cash?
I would pick a different target, rather than one who could bust me for fun.


[/ QUOTE ]

My read on him over the last several hands where folks made a possible steal-raise was that he was not interested in doing that.

I agree however, it was a questionable play in this spot (his BB) regardless of my read on him.

I would have liked to have done it earlier (before his blind), but I wanted to try it with a hand that would have a shot against a desperation all-in call by one of the shorter stacks, rather that the junk I'd been getting to that point.

[chet]

Can someone please define mini-raise for me? I've seen fossilman say that if you never make a mini-raise again, you've probably not made a mistake, but I've never seen it defined.

Thanks.

[nolanfan34]

Usually I think people mean a "min" raise, meaning minimum. So if the BB is 150, raising it only 150, to 300. The minimum amount.