Weak tourney play

[sahaguje]

Hi,

I wonder what do you think about this play. I dont know if I did the right thing, or if I was totally weak.
It is a NLHE 15+R tournament, and we are maybe 40 players left. I have a slightly below-average stack, and a relatively tight image.

Game #644481439 - Tournament Starfish R&A - 300/600 No Limit Texas Hold'em - 2004/11/19-06:41:58 (CST)
Table "Starfish R&A 6" (MTT) -- Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: brozie (11,687 in chips)
Seat 2: podrone (3,770 in chips)
Seat 4: sahaguje (8,070 in chips)
Seat 5: thecoletrain (7,115 in chips)
Seat 6: vamp11 (15,650 in chips)
Seat 7: Palco1 (40,430 in chips)
Seat 9: blitz321 (15,345 in chips)
Seat 10: friend54 (1,925 in chips)

all : Ante (50)
vamp11 : Post Small Blind (300)
Palco1 : Post Big Blind (600)
Dealing...
Dealt to sahaguje [ 4s ]
Dealt to sahaguje [ Kc ]
blitz321: Fold
friend54: Fold
brozie : Fold
podrone : Fold
sahaguje: Raise (1,800)

With a 13xBB stack, and folded to me on CO, I thought it was a good occasion to steal.

thecoletrain: Fold
vamp11 : Call (1,500)
Palco1 : Call (1,200)

I was quite surprised by these two calls. They were pretty tight players, and I havent stolen much earlier.

*** FLOP *** : [ Ks 5d 9s ]
vamp11 : Check
Palco1 : Check
sahaguje: Check

I decided to check, because with two callers on that flop, I could easily be beaten, or check-raised by a big draw. My stack is approximately the size of the pot, so if I bet, I have to go all in. So I checked, with the intention of going all in on turn i a blank fell and it was checked to me.

*** TURN *** : [ Ks 5d 9s ] [ Ac ]
vamp11 : Check
Palco1 : Bet (2,000)
sahaguje: Fold
vamp11 : Fold
Palco1 : Winner -- doesn't show cards

With that scary turn, and considering I held a marginal hand, I folded.

So, what do you think ? My major concern is about my flop play. Do you consider you always have to follow-up a steal if you hit your flop ? What are the main factors you consider before doing so ?

See you

sahaguje

[ZootMurph]

When I make steal attempts, it is against stacks that are smaller than me... with the largest stack in the BB and one of the bigger stacks in the SB, even though they are tight, I'd not try to steal from them. The fact that you are stealing from a steal position on two big stacks doesn't help. My steals come mostly UTG or middle position against a mid-sized stack smaller than me in BB. I also like resteals from CO or later... they seem to work a LOT later in a tourney.

As for the flop... You went for a steal, so you really have to throw out a strong bet when you hit your hand on the flop. The SB could have anything from a small/middle pair to just an ace. The BB could have any two cards, suited connectors, etc. They check to you... bet it. If you are check/raised, it's an easy fold. If they both fold, you've picked up extra chips from them calling your steal attempt, and they may be so obliged not to defend their blinds against you in the future.

Simply, once you are called you can't just give up and throw away that 1800 chips, ESPECIALLY if you hit top pair, regardless of kicker.

[sahaguje]

Thanks for your answer.

[ QUOTE ]
When I make steal attempts, it is against stacks that are smaller than me... with the largest stack in the BB and one of the bigger stacks in the SB, even though they are tight, I'd not try to steal from them. The fact that you are stealing from a steal position on two big stacks doesn't help. My steals come mostly UTG or middle position against a mid-sized stack smaller than me in BB. I also like resteals from CO or later... they seem to work a LOT later in a tourney.

[/ QUOTE ]

That seems to be a dangerous strategy... I thought it was better to steal in LP, since you have only to make 3-4 players fold, not 8. I agree it will look less obviously as a steal, but I wont feel as comfortable. I would steal on EP only if I have a big stack and we are getting close to the bubble.

[ QUOTE ]
As for the flop... You went for a steal, so you really have to throw out a strong bet when you hit your hand on the flop. The SB could have anything from a small/middle pair to just an ace. The BB could have any two cards, suited connectors, etc. They check to you... bet it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, it would have certainely be a better play. But how much should I bet, since I have about 6500 in a 5800 pot ?...

[ QUOTE ]
If you are check/raised, it's an easy fold.

[/ QUOTE ]
I disagree : I cannot bet less than 3000, and most of the time I would go all-in if I decide to bet. So if I am check-raised and dont call 3500 more in a 18 000 pot, I gess I would be giving up way too much, and I would find myself with less than 6xBB.

sahaguje