Sklansky 30-60 hand

Clarkmeister · #1 02-13-2003, 10:44 PM

At the Poker Discussion Group yesterday, Mason presented the following hand along with Sklansky's analysis. It sparked quite a bit of discussion not only at the meeting, but at dinner as well. Apologies if I get some small descriptive wrong, but it is accurate to the best of my memory.

$30-$60 ($30 and $20 blinds)

Solid Winning player open raises in MP. Unknown player cold calls in the CO. You are in the SB with pocket tens. We do not know how tight the BB is.

Fold, Call or Reraise. Are any of these options close?

astroglide · #2 02-13-2003, 10:56 PM

i would likely reraise. i'm not afraid of the unknown's hand, and i'm glad to see him call a raise.

next in line is calling, then folding. i don't think reraising and calling are very close.

Matt D · #3 02-13-2003, 10:58 PM

My usual rule for tens and jacks in this situation is this:

If the preflop raiser would almost always 4 bet with a bigger pair than mine but not with AK or AQ, I 3 bet. If the raiser is less predictable, I call. I do this to allow me to play my hand more correctly after the flop. If I get 4 bet, I check and fold the flop unless an ace comes and I think I can make the raiser lay down a hand like kings. I would never fold. I think folding is wrong and its not close.

Matt D · #4 02-13-2003, 11:00 PM

Also, please post Sklansky's analysis. Thanks.

mikelow · #5 02-13-2003, 11:07 PM

Clark, I'm assuming $20 and $30 blinds.
I vote for a call as you need the BB in the pot. If the BB calls you're getting 5-1. But unless a ten flops I'm not really interested--but I would check-call the flop if rags flopped.

Clarkmeister · #6 02-13-2003, 11:11 PM

Thanks for noting the blind error. I have corrected it.

So you would call. How viable are reraising or folding?

Mikey · #7 02-13-2003, 11:14 PM

I would fold.

#1 i'm outta position
#2 most likely need a set to win
#3 can be outplayed easily with lack of position

Save the money for a better situation.

This is an interesting topic.

Matt D · #8 02-13-2003, 11:27 PM

If you call and the BB calls, you are getting 5 to 1 on your $40 to flop a set. This means that you only have to average a 2 big bet profit after the flop to make a preflop call profitable. I think you will definately do that with a set of tens. This coupled with the fact that your hand will be the biggest pair a great deal of the time makes a fold here very wrong in my opinion.

hillbilly · #9 02-13-2003, 11:33 PM

mikelow, why get involved preflop if you are not willing to splash any chips postflop without a Ten on the flop? it's 8.3-1 to flop a ten and the pot only laying you 5-1 at best...are there enough implied odds to come to make up for this initial deficit?

i think you can play the hand here if your postflop skills are VERY strong but if you need a Ten (always) to play on i think it would be best for most folks to just fold preflop here

PokerPrince · #10 02-13-2003, 11:39 PM

I would reraise this hand in an attempt to drive the big blind out. Taking a strong stand and forcing the big blind to pay a hefty price is the way to go. The strong player could be open raising from MP with a variety of hands here and your 10's are more than likely ahead.

PokerPrince