8/b: (6 4) 4 turns into low two pair

[AKQJ10]

I tried playing a $5 Stud 8/b tournament on Absolute tonight and did abysmally, 68th of 78. I think it was largely horrible cards, but when I struggle at stud I always wonder if I'm chasing too much too.

So if you'll indulge me, this may be the first of a few hands I feel are worth posting:




Seven Card Multi Normal Tournament Normal $25/$50 -

Villain is also a possible calling station; other than that, no other reads.

Table: 2 (Real Money)
Seat 1 - PossibleCallingStation ($1213.50 in chips)
PossibleCallingStation - Ante $5
Seat 2 - Seat2 ($1563.50 in chips)
Seat2 - Ante $5
Seat 3 - Seat3 ($1451 in chips)
Seat3 - Ante $5
Seat 4 - Hero ($1666 in chips)
Hero - Ante $5
Seat 5 - Seat5 ($1513 in chips)
Seat5 - Ante $5
Seat 6 - Villain ($1623 in chips)
Villain - Ante $5
Seat 7 - Seat7 ($1470 in chips)
Seat7 - Ante $5
*** 3rd STREET ***
PossibleCallingStation - Pocket [H H 7s]
Seat2 - Pocket [H H 3d]
Seat3 - Pocket [H H 10h]
Hero - Pocket [6d 4c 4s]
Seat5 - Pocket [H H Qh]
Villain - Pocket [H H 5h]
Seat7 - Pocket [H H 8s]
Seat2 - Bring-In $10
Seat3 - Folds
Hero - Raises $25 to $25
Seat5 - Calls $25
Villain - Raises $50 to $50
Seat7 - Calls $50
PossibleCallingStation - Folds
Seat2 - Folds
Hero - Calls $25
Seat5 - Calls $25
*** 4TH STREET ***
Hero - Pocket [6d 4c 4s 2h]
Seat5 - Pocket [H H Qh Jh]
Villain - Pocket [H H 5h 3s]
Seat7 - Pocket [H H 8s Qc]
Seat5 - Checks
Villain - Bets $25
Seat7 - Folds
Hero - Calls $25
Seat5 - Calls $25
*** 5TH STREET ***
Hero - Pocket [6d 4c 4s 2h 2c]
Seat5 - Pocket [H H Qh Jh 2d]
Villain - Pocket [H H 5h 3s 9s]
Hero - Bets $50
Seat5 - Calls $50
Villain - Calls $50
*** 6TH STREET ***
Hero - Pocket [6d 4c 4s 2h 2c Ks]
Seat5 - Pocket [H H Qh Jh 2d 7c]
Villain - Pocket [H H 5h 3s 9s 10c]
Hero - Checks
Seat5 - Checks
Villain - Bets $50
Hero - ???

[imported_getfunky]

i believe your mistake was made on 3rd st. small pairs with baby kickers are marginal hands .. a limp is ok as long as you're willing to fold to a raise .. a raise is ok as a steal, but here you're early positioned with small antes. raising and calling a reraise is not good idea as your hand will be second best too much of the time and you'll usually be up against a bigger pair and a better low draw. it's even more important to generally fold these hands in tourneys as they can eat up your stack. the ideal time to play these in tourneys is in last position in an unraised pot.

[AKQJ10]

Thanks for the suggestions. Among other mistakes, i recalled that low pair-low kicker makes Zee's list of playable hands, but didn't recall how far down the list it is.

It turned out disastrously (to be results-oriented for a second) because I had put Villain on a prime low hand like (A2)5 or something. In reality he started rolled up! So when i intuitively/impulsively raised on 6th street at the "???" (to drive the high drawing hand out, so i thought), I was really just throwing away chips.

I suppose I should have guessed (55)5 or (AA)5 when Villain kept betting on the later streets, but I figured he was betting trying to take down the pot.

Ah well, i have a lot to learn about this game!

[imported_getfunky]

np, yes it's a difficult game, and i'd advise caution against trying to outplay players, because you usually need to showdown a hand .. god knows I try to know avail and have lost big pots as a result.. with the split pot possibility, players are even more inclined to chase. nevertheless when you've played with a player long enough and have a great read, go for it - but sad to say, basic poker is usually the answer, particularly at the lower limits .. it may be boring but just playing tight, strong fundamentals will make you a winner