$500+30 SNG on Pokerstars, Opinions plx.

Chief911 · #1 11-02-2004, 10:20 AM

So after playing a lot of $100's and $200's on Party, I've started to play over on PokerStars as well, as I find them equally soft, and enjoy the interface over there.

This was my first $500 SNG, but I've played plenty of $500 HU matches, and alot of $200 SNG's on both sites. To make it a bit more interesting Layne Flack sat down to play (Reloadthis), and was 4 to my right.

Mostly just want opinions on hands, as usually when I post these I get some good feedback.

Hand 1

This is the first hand when I tangle with Layne Flack, and there's always just a bit of an uneasy feeling. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed)

CO (t1660)
Button (t1480)
SB (t1480)
BB (t1380)
UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
Hero (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, Hero raises to t60, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button calls t60, SB folds, BB calls t40.

Flop: (t190) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t60, Button folds, BB calls t60.

Turn: (t310) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (t310) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets t200, Hero calls t200.

Final Pot: t710

Results in white below: 
BB has 6s 5c (two pair, jacks and twos).
Hero has Ks Ah (two pair, jacks and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins t710. 

Hand 2:

This has been (For better of for worse) one of my pet moves to make in the larger buyin SNG's, because people are much more willing to lay down mediocre hands to a check raise. Didnt work here, and I had to check the river and give it up.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed)

UTG+1 (t750)
MP1 (t1140)
MP2 (t1470)
MP3 (t2330)
CO (t1470)
Button (t1470)
SB (t1480)
Hero (t1890)
UTG (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls t20, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, Hero checks.

Flop: (t50) K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets t40, Hero calls t40.

Turn: (t130) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets t40, Hero raises to t120, UTG+1 calls t80.

River: (t370) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks.

Final Pot: t370

Results in white below: 
Hero has 5h 4h (one pair, kings).
UTG+1 has Ad 2d (two pair, aces and kings).
Outcome: UTG+1 wins t370. 

Yuck.

Hand 3

Again, caught with AK and no hit. I hate these situations, but I think you HAVE to bet out here even if you miss the flop. Ya think?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed)

Button (t910)
SB (t1080)
BB (t1410)
UTG (t3490)
UTG+1 (t990)
MP1 (t990)
MP2 (t1470)
Hero (t1700)
CO (t1460)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to t120, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, Hero raises to t300, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 calls t180.

Flop: (t645) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets t689, UTG+1 folds.

Final Pot: t1334

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t1334. 

Hand 4

I think this was my first mistake of the SNG. Low stack pusher had just lost most all of his chips two hands earlier, and was very aggressive. I think I SHOULD have put him on an ace, and properly fold here, but I had 90 in the pot, and was stubborn. Is this a call, or an easy fold?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed)

MP2 (t1880)
MP3 (t1035)
CO (t470)
Button (t3760)
SB (t390)
BB (t990)
UTG (t1470)
Hero (t2045)
MP1 (t1460)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, Hero raises to t90, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 calls t90, CO raises to t470, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, Hero raises to t2045, MP3 folds.

Flop: (t2650) T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)

Turn: (t2650) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)

River: (t2650) T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: t2650

Results in white below: 
Hero has Kd Qs (two pair, tens and sevens).
CO has 9s As (two pair, aces and tens).
Outcome: CO wins t2650. 

Hand 5

My only regret is that I did not play this more aggressively. Should I have set him all in on the river? I was hoping for a reraise allin, but didnt get it. I guess I set that amt because I wanted to get paid off. Thoughts?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed)

UTG (t1880)
UTG+1 (t945)
MP1 (t1120)
MP2 (t3760)
MP3 (t375)
CO (t945)
Button (t1470)
Hero (t1545)
BB (t1460)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls t30, MP1 folds, MP2 calls t30, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t120) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero bets t90, BB calls t90, UTG+1 folds, MP2 calls t90.

Turn: (t390) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets t450, BB calls t450, MP2 folds.

River: (t1290) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets t480, BB calls t480.

Final Pot: t2250

Results in white below: 
Hero has 8h Kh (flush, king high).
BB has 8d Qd (three of a kind, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins t2250. 

Hand 6

Gaining a bit of confidence, here's a short hand vs. Layne. He was taking stabs at almost every pot he was in, so his bet out does not mean much.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed)

UTG (t1725)
UTG+1 (t1745)
MP1 (t2240)
MP2 (t1960)
MP3 (t300)
CO (t945)
Button (t1470)
Hero (t2695)
BB (t420)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls t50, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t150) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP2 bets t150, Hero raises to t350, BB folds, MP2 folds.

Final Pot: t650

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins t650. 

Hand 7

No great read on villian in this hand. He was solid though, which is why I laid it down. Does anyone else call here?

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

UTG (t1445)
MP1 (t1645)
MP2 (t2340)
CO (t2710)
Button (t970)
SB (t1370)
Hero (t3020)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (t200) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB bets t100, Hero raises to t300, SB raises to t1270, Hero folds.

Final Pot: t1770

Results in white below: 
No showdown. SB wins t1770. 

Hand 8

This is a very questionable call in my mind, but I put him on a smaller PP, making my call required. Should I have assumed I was beat here and laid it down? It was for half my stack, which hurt.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed)

SB (t1465)
BB (t5760)
UTG (t3275)
Hero (t3000)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, Hero raises to t600, SB raises to t1440, BB folds, Hero calls t840.

Flop: (t2930) K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)

Turn: (t2930) Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)

River: (t2930) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: t2930

Results in white below: 
SB has As Ks (one pair, kings).
Hero has Ad Ts (high card, ace).
Outcome: SB wins t2930. 

Ouch.

Hand 9:

Now its bubble time and I find myself short stacked. Yuck. Fortunately Layne and the big stack seem to like to tangle, so I'm hoping they find a way to knock each other out. For about 6 hands in a row Layne and the winner of this coming hand tangled allin several times, trading chips back and forth til this hand comes up:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed)

BB (t2330)
UTG (t4370)
Button (t4715)
Hero (t2085)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG raises to t400, Button raises to t1000, Hero folds, BB folds, UTG raises to t4345, Button calls t3345.

Flop: (t8740) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)

Turn: (t8740) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)

River: (t8740) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: t8740

Results in white below: 
UTG has Ks Ac (high card, ace).
Button has As Js (high card, ace).
Outcome: UTG wins t8740. 

Woohooo. Little stack hangin in!

Hand 10

This was a fairly standard play in my mind. Was this out of line? This is vs. the guy who had gone back and forth with Layne and knocked him out, so I knew he was capable of calling allin's with mediocre hands, but isnt that what I want?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (3 handed)

Button (t1470)
SB (t10095)
Hero (t1935)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
Button folds, SB completes, Hero raises to t1910, SB calls t1510.

Flop: (t3670) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

Turn: (t3670) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)

River: (t3670) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: t3670

Results in white below: 
SB has Tc Js (two pair, jacks and sevens).
Hero has Kd 8d (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: SB wins t3670. 

So, invested $530, won $900. My first SNG at this level, was an interesting time. Comments on my play all around would be appreciated.

Daxonovitch · #2 11-02-2004, 03:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 1

This is the first hand when I tangle with Layne Flack, and there's always just a bit of an uneasy feeling. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting hand but you played it 'obviously' - the raise is too small preflop and you should go for a check raise on the flop if his bet is small (or even flat call and checkraise the turn if you want to get fancy). What are you going to do if he raises you when you underbet the flop? You're obviously not scaring him away. Granted, if it were me I wouldn't be really tangling too much early on. Good bet on his part on the river (nice call too).

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 2:
Yuck.

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually like a lot about this hand except for size of the checkraise. You have 1500 in front of you with a pot of 170 or so (marginally worth fighting for). Checkraise to 200 here.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 3

Again, caught with AK and no hit. I hate these situations, but I think you HAVE to bet out here even if you miss the flop. Ya think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I like flatcalling preflop - what do you do when you're reraised all in? Call me too passive preflop but AK is a drawing hand and you're likely to be heads up with him anyway. Take a flop off.

Good bet on the flop.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 4

I think this was my first mistake of the SNG.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm inclined to agree. It's 9-handed and you raised KQo UTG+1. Blinds still look pretty small but now you've got to risk your stack against someone who has plenty of time to sit around and wait for a hand and is pushing. You *know* you are going to be a dog here, and odds are good that you're either dominated or have one over or one under (even two unders). There aren't many hands that you can expect him to push with that you'd be happy to call with KQo here. Fold to the reraise and protect your chips.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 5

My only regret is that I did not play this more aggressively. Should I have set him all in on the river?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I think it would be a safe read that he has a queen (maybe a weak queen), and with that many chips in the pot after the turn, you're happy to either win the pot uncontested or stack off. Push on the river, or if you're feeling like he's really gonna bet it, checkraise him all in.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 6

Gaining a bit of confidence...

[/ QUOTE ]

nh.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 7

No great read on villian in this hand. He was solid though, which is why I laid it down. Does anyone else call here?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, exactly right. Don't get broke with top pair 6 kicker out of the big blind. You don't know what he's limping with. A9? TT? AA? All likely.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 8

This is a very questionable call in my mind...
Ouch.

[/ QUOTE ]

You probably *could* get away from this hand, minimum pushing hands for him are AJ+, 77+, but probably not KQ. In just about any case but 77-99 you're in for a bumpy ride. Keep in mind that "bubble philosophy" applies here and he's unlikely to push without that much of a stronger hand (unless he's a strong player trying to take advantage of YOU playing "bubble philosophy"). Fold and move on.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 9:

Now its bubble time and I find myself short stacked. Yuck.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed)

Hero (t2085)

[/ QUOTE ]
You aren't short stacked.

[ QUOTE ]

Hand 10

Preflop: Hero is BB with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
Button folds, SB completes, Hero raises to t1910

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem with that.

[ QUOTE ]

So, invested $530, won $900. My first SNG at this level, was an interesting time. Comments on my play all around would be appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

GG

TheCat · #3 11-03-2004, 11:46 AM

If Stars hand histories are Replayer friendly could you post some complete $500 games please

Chief911 · #4 11-03-2004, 12:02 PM

I believe replayer is PP only. I'd post the whole HH in text format if you'd like, but no replayer now.

Nick

TheCat · #5 11-03-2004, 01:12 PM

It's only really of any use in Replayer, thanks anyway.
What's the standard of play like in $500?

Stoneii · #6 11-03-2004, 03:39 PM

Layne Flack-ish std I guess [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

TheDrone · #7 11-03-2004, 05:38 PM

In hand 8, why did you not include AQ or AK in your read? If you were SB would you play these hands with a short stack facing a raise? I don't know how the 200's or 500's play, but I would think the most common play here is to push these hands, even on the bubble and knowing that the raiser is not likely to fold. Also I would include pocket pairs up to QQ. Just curious how you got the more specific read.

SpeakEasy · #8 11-03-2004, 06:31 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 2:

This has been (For better of for worse) one of my pet moves to make in the larger buyin SNG's, because people are much more willing to lay down mediocre hands to a check raise. Didnt work here, and I had to check the river and give it up.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would bet 185 on the river. If I am your opponent, I am worried about you drawing to the flush (which you were) until the river. Your bet on the river for 1/2 the pot changes my thinking, and now I'm concerned that you have A-better kicker or a K, and it looks like you want a call. Decent chance your opponent would fold.

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 4

I think this was my first mistake of the SNG. Low stack pusher had just lost most all of his chips two hands earlier, and was very aggressive. I think I SHOULD have put him on an ace, and properly fold here, but I had 90 in the pot, and was stubborn. Is this a call, or an easy fold?

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy fold. I fold this hand beforr raising to 90, and definitely fold to the re-raise.

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 5

My only regret is that I did not play this more aggressively. Should I have set him all in on the river? I was hoping for a reraise allin, but didnt get it. I guess I set that amt because I wanted to get paid off. Thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

He will pay off more -- at least a bet of around 750, and maybe an all-in bet.

dolohov · #9 11-03-2004, 09:18 PM

Hand 1:
Like the way u played it.

Hand 2:
I'd fold on the flop

Hand 3:
I'd either raise all-in pre-flop or just call and fold if no A or K hits the flop.

Hand 4:
Would fold preflop with KQ off from bad position

Hand 5:
More or less like the way you played it.

Just my two cents, I play lots of $109's on pp and $114 turbos on stars.

lorinda · #10 11-03-2004, 09:32 PM

I may fall into the reverse Strasser trap here (Play small, talk about big) but I'll give it a shot.

Hand 1:

I like the line with the AK, the small bet keeps it small enough to not be worth stealing off you whilst also might represent a trap bet.
The call on the river is probably neccessary as you are likely to be the only unknown on the table and, combined with some chance of taking the pot you also send out the long term message that you're strong enough to compete with these guys.

Hand 2:

It looks to me like your opponent either has a monster or a poor draw.
I fire again on the river here as I think it will take it down about half of the time.

Hand 3:

I play it like you did.

Hand 4:

I don't like this, but actually specifying why is kinda difficult.
I think it's a fold preflop to be honest and also think that your best chance to win this pot if you wanted to steal it would be to call now and push on the flop. (Not for the faint of heart)

Hand 5:

Sure, why not.

You could also consider checking the turn to play it the same way that you played your initial AK, but I havent read the results to that yet, so I don't know if they saw your cards or not.

Hand 6:

Looks like a good read, impossible for anyone here to say, even those that know llayne's online play because it's an alocohol specific situation.

Hand 7:

Seems routine.

Hand 8:

You simply have to call here, the SB is often going to show you an outright bluff here from the bits of $500 bubble play I've watched.

Hand 10

Does indeed look standard.

I urge low limit players not to use the advice in this post as I've attempted to write it for the level at which it was being played.

MANY of the plays are downright wrong for the lower limits, and some may be downright wrong for the higher limits as I only have experience of watching, not playing, this limit.

Lori