($33): Aggressive short handed play, I'm bad at it!

[xJMPx]

The last couple weeks have been frustrating for me, so I'm looking to plug some leaks in my game.

For the most part, I've been getting my chips in the middle with the best hand and just getting drawn out on. So, I know things will turn around if I keep making the +EV plays.

However, I think part of the problem is having to push too often because my stack dwindles away, thus putting my stack at risk more and get called by those low PPs and broadways.

I went through my hand histories for the last couple days to find some hands that I've lost (donked away?) chips trying to be aggressive short handed and I'm looking for comments. Unfortunately, I don't remember what reads I had at the time. But, I had not been raising too much so my image should be solid.

Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2055)
Button: (2744)
SB: (1271)
BB: (1930)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ 2d, Ac ]
Hero raises (500) to 500, 1 fold, SB raises (771) to 1271 all-In., 1 fold, Hero folds.

Total number of players : 5
CO+1: (2161)
CO: (1415)
Button: (442)
Hero: (2380)
BB: (1602)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ Jd, Qh ]
3 folds, Hero raises (500) to 600, BB raises (1002) to 1602 all-In, Hero folds.

Total number of players : 6
CO+2: (1925)
CO+1: (1038)
Hero: (740)
Button: (590)
SB: (1050)
BB: (2657)
Blinds 25/50

Dealt to Hero [ 8s, Ah ]
2 folds, Hero raises (150) to 150, Button raises (440) to 590 is all-In, 2 folds, Hero folds.

Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2240)
Button: (1405)
SB: (730)
BB: (3625)
Blinds 150/300

Dealt to Hero [ Jh, Jd ]
Hero raises (900) to 900, 1 fold, SB calls (580) all-in, BB calls (600).

<font color="red">With this hand I was trying to induce some action and try to double up. I should have just pushed? </font>

** Dealing Flop ** : Pot ($2700) [ Ad, 8s, 3s ]
BB bets (425), Hero folds.

[pooh74]

I don't have time right now to go through every hand in writing, but just wanted to say a couple of things in general.

1. Don't feel compelled to raise every weak ace, especially if you're not willing to call an all-in from at least 1 stack behind you.

2. If what I said in one applies (you are raising from MP but will fold to any resistance) then maybe you are better off open folding.

3. When stuck between raising and pushing, pushing is always better if the blinds are high enough.

4. Worry more about you position when you raise and not your cards. I see many below average players raise these mediocre cards 6 handed from UTG which pot committs themselves. Just fold. I'd rather push T7 from the SB with large blinds than A8 UTG 6 handed with the same blinds.


p

This is how I would play them:

1. I fold even though you have to be aggressive on the bubble. This is not a good spot for a raise.

2. It depends on the BB. If he's LAG I'd just fold. If he's tight I'd push. If he's loose passive I might limp.

3. I fold

4. Push. There is no need to get cute with these blinds.

[DeathbySuckout]

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2055)
Button: (2744)
SB: (1271)
BB: (1930)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ 2d, Ac ]
Hero raises (500) to 500, 1 fold, SB raises (771) to 1271 all-In., 1 fold, Hero folds

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm folding this UTG.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 5
CO+1: (2161)
CO: (1415)
Button: (442)
Hero: (2380)
BB: (1602)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ Jd, Qh ]
3 folds, Hero raises (500) to 600, BB raises (1002) to 1602 all-In, Hero folds.


[/ QUOTE ]
I'm folding this. Not a great hand, button ready to bust out(hopefully), and you should be able to get some chips on the bubble.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 6
CO+2: (1925)
CO+1: (1038)
Hero: (740)
Button: (590)
SB: (1050)
BB: (2657)
Blinds 25/50

Dealt to Hero [ 8s, Ah ]
2 folds, Hero raises (150) to 150, Button raises (440) to 590 is all-In, 2 folds, Hero folds.


[/ QUOTE ]
I'm folding this. It's too early to start playing Ax.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2240)
Button: (1405)
SB: (730)
BB: (3625)
Blinds 150/300

Dealt to Hero [ Jh, Jd ]
Hero raises (900) to 900, 1 fold, SB calls (580) all-in, BB calls (600).

With this hand I was trying to induce some action and try to double up. I should have just pushed?


[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, you should've just pushed.

[jedinite]

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 5
CO+1: (2161)
CO: (1415)
Button: (442)
Hero: (2380)
BB: (1602)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ Jd, Qh ]
3 folds, Hero raises (500) to 600, BB raises (1002) to 1602 all-In, Hero folds.


[/ QUOTE ]

This was a bad one. Raising and not pushing here signals that you're interested in laying your hand down, and invites the BB to push over the top with a very wide range.

I push this preflop 99.99% of the time baring specific reads or unless i've pushed every SB for the last four+ orbits. with the blinds where they're at, and with the short stack around, this is a great time to accumulate chips.

Otherwise I agree with DbSuckout...

[joeg]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 5
CO+1: (2161)
CO: (1415)
Button: (442)
Hero: (2380)
BB: (1602)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ Jd, Qh ]
3 folds, Hero raises (500) to 600, BB raises (1002) to 1602 all-In, Hero folds.


[/ QUOTE ]
I'm folding this. Not a great hand, button ready to bust out(hopefully), and you should be able to get some chips on the bubble.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think a fold is to tight here, your against 2 random cards and have a reasonable hand, your opponents will also be aware that there is a short stack about to bust and arnt likely to be to keen to get involved without some sort of hand values so you can expect to pick up the blinds more often. Just my opinion though.

[DeathbySuckout]

[ QUOTE ]
I think a fold is too tight here

[/ QUOTE ]

You might be right, I might be too tight here. Pushing might be right.

But here's what I see, and I'm basing this all on the stack sizes.

I don't like QJo, outside of ITM. Maybe it's because I'm playing the $11s right now, and a lot of these guys will call any Ax with the chance of doubling up. Right now I'm sitting pretty for bubble play, and can gain a lot of chips on the bubble, if the small stack busts soon. I don't want to give up that position, and lose FE from people seeing I push w/ Queen high. You will get called with any Ax or Kx from the big stacks. I would rather look tight and have the other people guessing that I might just be pushing dominate hands on the bubble.
Now, I might change my mind completely if small stack doesn't bust, or I start losing chips to the blinds.

[SonnyJay]

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2055)
Button: (2744)
SB: (1271)
BB: (1930)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ 2d, Ac ]
Hero raises (500) to 500, 1 fold, SB raises (771) to 1271 all-In., 1 fold, Hero folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
Fold. Even 4 handed, position matters (especially with hands like this). And you absolutely can't make this raise without being willing to call t771 more from the SB.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 5
CO+1: (2161)
CO: (1415)
Button: (442)
Hero: (2380)
BB: (1602)
Blinds 100/200

Dealt to Hero [ Jd, Qh ]
3 folds, Hero raises (500) to 600, BB raises (1002) to 1602 all-In, Hero folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
All-in. You only have to make one opponent lay this down, and I think this is a good spot to pick up t300. And again, if you do make this raise you have to call the all in. You can't be raising against someone with 8xBB and be willing to fold to a raise. Push or fold, and I think it's a push.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 6
CO+2: (1925)
CO+1: (1038)
Hero: (740)
Button: (590)
SB: (1050)
BB: (2657)
Blinds 25/50

Dealt to Hero [ 8s, Ah ]
2 folds, Hero raises (150) to 150, Button raises (440) to 590 is all-In, 2 folds, Hero folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
Eh, I fold this. I can see picking up blinds but it's tough to get reraised here. From the button I may make a stab, I think I fold here.

[ QUOTE ]
Total number of players : 4
Hero: (2240)
Button: (1405)
SB: (730)
BB: (3625)
Blinds 150/300

Dealt to Hero [ Jh, Jd ]
Hero raises (900) to 900, 1 fold, SB calls (580) all-in, BB calls (600).

[/ QUOTE ]
Push. Not nearly a good enough hand to try to get fancy with. You're more than happy to take the blinds preflop and not have to dodge as many as 9 overcards.

-SonnyJay