Simple Common Tournament Situation

[David Sklansky]

Middle of a major no limit holdem tournament. About half the field is gone and your original $2000 is down to $1100. You are the best player at your table but there are no live ones there. Nine handed. 100-200 blinds. You are dealt QJ suited under the gun.

[GrinningBuddha]

Pass. If I'm the best player at the table, I don't need to be taking big risks like this. Make it AJ and I'll think about it.

[37offsuit]

fold

[bigfishead]

Information is incomplete. If I am regarded as the numero uno tight-ass image as well as aggressive, and the blinds do not have LARGE stacks, and I have played 10% of the flops, I still may muck.

Or not. I may bet 450-550, but I wont shove all-in.

But then again "it depends". If I think, they think, I think, etc. type of depends, and how often blinds respect raises and how aggressive/passive/loose/tight..the rest of the table is. But generally, tiny edges or coin flips as this hand is should be avoided by the best player at the table. Yet the short stack hurts those circumstances.

Does any of what I just said as I thought it aloud make sense? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
Or not. I may bet 450-550, but I wont shove all-in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why bother to hold back a pittance? If you're goin' at this point you go all in IMO.

[AngryCola]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Or not. I may bet 450-550, but I wont shove all-in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why bother to hold back a pittance? If you're goin' at this point you go all in IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are right about that. Half your stack generally commits you. It doesn't have to but something unique would have to rear it's head. [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[bigfishead]

because the 450-550 bet looks strong enough like you are
committed to have better hands but not GREAT hands fold in this spot. Thats is of major importance. Shoving all-in, too often LOOKS like desparation hence someone with AJo may come over the top to isolate you leaving you totally dominated. Yet the player description defines that they are not live ones, so the 1/2 stack raise looks like more of a hand.

As a side note. If I have AA QQ KK in this spot I shove all-in for exactly the same reasons as above.

[jakethebake]

So what do you do when someone comes over the top of you? And someone WILL come over the top of that weak bet. You can't fold at that point anyway. What are you gonna do with the pittance you have left. You're blinded out in a few hands anyway.

[ QUOTE ]
because the 450-550 bet looks strong enough like you are
committed to have better hands but not GREAT hands fold in this spot. Thats is of major importance. Shoving all-in, too often LOOKS like desparation hence someone with AJo may come over the top to isolate you leaving you totally dominated. Yet the player description defines that they are not live ones, so the 1/2 stack raise looks like more of a hand.

As a side note. If I have AA QQ KK in this spot I shove all-in for exactly the same reasons as above.

[/ QUOTE ]

[AngryCola]

[ QUOTE ]
So what do you do when someone comes over the top of you? And someone WILL come over the top of that weak bet. You can't fold at that point anyway. What are you gonna do with the pittance you have left. You're blinded out in a few hands anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bingo. There is a lot of hope in what bigfishhead is suggesting. What your raise "looks like" won't matter to someone holding pocket jacks or AQ anyway.

That is why coming in under the gun with a hand like QJ is rarely a good play at a full table. [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I may bet 450-550, but I wont shove all-in.

Why bet half your chips? It's not like you're going to fold on the flop if your're called. or fold if you're reraised.

Clear all-in or fold situation.