How do the experts play this?

[TexInAtl]

Raising from the BB with such a mediocre hand as K9s is very, very BAD. You are way out of position, and you have the opportunity to close the action pre-flop. Why raise and give an opponent, who may be trying to LRR, the opportunity to do so.

Once the flop hits you, you have top pair with a mediocre kicker. Personally, I don't like to play this type of hand out of position for fear of being dominated. Look at the range of hands that have you beat that could possibly limp before the flop: 33, 77, K7, K10, KJ, KQ, AK.

Bottomline is that at no point would I be willing to risk any significant portion of my chips, much less my entire tournament, on this hand out of position. I would check PF, lead at the flop, but after that I'd pretty much be done with the hand.

Thanks

[Buz]

Thanks for the replies.

Next time - I close the action with a speculative hand.

Do you run the risk of being run over by an aggressive player when you play as tight as is suggested? Is the strategy generally to allow yourself to be run over, but then trap the aggressor later on when you make a big hand?

Your point is really good that there were a lot of "limping" hands that beat my top pair. Still, I was surprised that I got a call on the turn from a player on a draw. Turns out he had 14 outs to beat top pair: a pair and a flush draw, a little better than 2:1 and losing doesn't cost him the tournament. I shouldn't have been surprised.

If I keep the pot small pre-flop and after the flop, I can make it wrong to call with a draw and still have chips left if he plays back and I have to surrender -- or am I just setting myself up to be trapped?

[DireWolf]

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Thanks for the replies.

Next time - I close the action with a speculative hand.



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Not really a speculative hand. More like a crap hand.

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Do you run the risk of being run over by an aggressive player when you play as tight as is suggested? Is the strategy generally to allow yourself to be run over, but then trap the aggressor later on when you make a big hand?


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There is a difference between being Tight and being Passive. You should really pick up some 2+2 books.

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Your point is really good that there were a lot of "limping" hands that beat my top pair. Still, I was surprised that I got a call on the turn from a player on a draw. Turns out he had 14 outs to beat top pair: a pair and a flush draw, a little better than 2:1 and losing doesn't cost him the tournament. I shouldn't have been surprised.


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He was a favorite on the flop. Many fish will call with just a flush draw no matter what the "odds".

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If I keep the pot small pre-flop and after the flop, I can make it wrong to call with a draw and still have chips left if he plays back and I have to surrender -- or am I just setting myself up to be trapped?

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With K9 in the BB you want to keep this pot as small as possible.

[TexInAtl]

It's not about running over or allowing yourself to be run over. I know it's been said time and time again. Tournament poker is about playing position and situations.

In this particular hand, you are in a bad position in a bad situation, and (being ironical for a moment) you made the best out of it. You gave not some, but ALL of your chips to another player probably directly related to your fear of being "run over" by other players. I struggle with this same problem, but rather than using your emotions to control your play, separate yourself from your emotions and look at the cards, your postion, and the situation that you're in. Hope this helps.

Thanks

[MrLob]

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Raising from the BB with such a mediocre hand as K9s is very, very BAD. You are way out of position, and you have the opportunity to close the action pre-flop. Why raise and give an opponent, who may be trying to LRR, the opportunity to do so.

Once the flop hits you, you have top pair with a mediocre kicker. Personally, I don't like to play this type of hand out of position for fear of being dominated. Look at the range of hands that have you beat that could possibly limp before the flop: 33, 77, K7, K10, KJ, KQ, AK.

Bottomline is that at no point would I be willing to risk any significant portion of my chips, much less my entire tournament, on this hand out of position. I would check PF, lead at the flop, but after that I'd pretty much be done with the hand.



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Exactly