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RunnerJohn · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: How Bad Was This Play?

I played my best SNG tournament ever today. I've only been playing since January. In January, I lost about $300. In February, I lost about $150. In March, I lost about $50. I started playing SNGs at the beginning of April, and by midmonth, I was up about $35. Then I hit a losing streak and didn't cash in 15 straight tournaments, so I'm now down about $50 for the month. I think I'm getting better, but I'm still learning. Today I entered a $5, 9 player NL Hold 'Em tournament. I played well from the beginning and pretty much dominated the entire tournament. Really, it seemed like I could do no wrong. At one point, I was sitting BB and was dealt 53 off. There were a couple of callers, but no raisers, so I checked to see a free flop. The flop came 535. That's just the kind of day I had. There was one hand, however, that I didn't play so well, and I had another player a little mad about it. But I'm not sure I donked as bad as he would probably tell you.

Here's the story: I was on the button, dealt K3 off. Not a good hand at all. There was one limper and no raisers to me. Normally I would just fold and sit this one out, but I had 5900 chips and the second highest stack was 2600, so I thought I could afford to gamble. I bet out 3X BB to try to steal the blinds. The SB raised all in (510 chips) and the BB and limper folded. So, there was about 800 in the pot and it would cost me 330 to call. I was thinking if I called, there were only three hands that would be HUGE favorites over mine (AA, AK, KK), plus the odds looked good enough. Besides, if I lost, I would still have double the chips of the second highest stack. If I won, I would eliminate the short stack. So I made the call. I lost and doubled up the small stack.

One of the other players was mad about my call, because by doubling up the short stack, I basically put him back in the game. I can see that. In his position, I probably would have been mad, too. On the other hand, I still don't know if it was THAT bad a call to make.

So, I'll leave it up to the forum. Take a look at the hand history below. If you think I totally donked this, playing like a complete jackass, say so. I won't be offended.

Thanks,

By the way, what does jo mean?

Full Tilt Poker Game #6184005316: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (47070464), Table 1
- 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 12:13:52 ET - 2008/04/26
Seat 2: jadakiss07 (2,628)
Seat 3: FreeeK007 (1,730)
Seat 4: TexasBlitz (1,320)
Seat 5: SLashixd (1,360)
Seat 7: RunnerJohn (5,952)
Seat 9: Ul7ima7e (510)
Ul7ima7e posts the small blind of 30
jadakiss07 posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RunnerJohn [3c Ks]
FreeeK007 folds
TexasBlitz folds
SLashixd calls 60
RunnerJohn raises to 180
Ul7ima7e raises to 510, and is all in
jadakiss07 folds
SLashixd folds
RunnerJohn calls 330
Ul7ima7e shows [9c 9h]
RunnerJohn shows [3c Ks]
*** FLOP *** [3d Jh 8d]
*** TURN *** [3d Jh 8d] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [3d Jh 8d 4h] [6s]
Ul7ima7e shows a pair of Nines
RunnerJohn shows a pair of Threes
Ul7ima7e wins the pot (1,140) with a pair of Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,140 | Rake 0
Board: [3d Jh 8d 4h 6s]
Seat 2: jadakiss07 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: FreeeK007 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TexasBlitz didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: SLashixd folded before the Flop
Seat 7: RunnerJohn (button) showed [3c Ks] and lost with a pair

cubbies760 · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

You're sitting on a huge stack of chips, and you said that you thought you'd try to steal the blinds. This doesn't seem like a smart move with King Rag. You need to be aware of the short stack when considering a move like this. Once you made it 180, calling the all-in is OK, given the you're getting about 5:2.

I think it all went wrong when you tried to steal the blinds (and the limper). I'm sitting on those chips, not afraid to bully the table with a decent hand, but I'm not choosing King Rag, that's for sure.

Oh......jo is usually jag-off.

dcdoorknob · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Yeah, after you raise, the call is fine. It's the raise in the first place which is very questionable, especially considering the shortstack who won't hesitate to push back with much of anything decent and the limper in front.

peoplepod · Pair Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 22 Location: England

yes once you have made the raise the call is fine but one thing i will say is

"I was thinking if I called, there were only three hands that would be HUGE favorites over mine (AA, AK, KK)"

is pretty wrong KQ KJ K10... plus any pair above 2's has your hand pretty well beat as well as A3

so i dont mind the call but your thinking there was a bit off

good luck with your sit&gos

RunnerJohn · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks for the advice. I'm reading "Sit 'n Go Strategy" by Collin Moshman right now and I just read a chapter about blind stealing, so I was trying to apply what I read. Like I said, I'm still learning. I'll get better. At least I hope I'll get better.

By the way, this is the 7th book I've read, and it's the first that helped me understand position. I'd recommend it to any other beginners out there.

illbill1212 · High Card Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

illbill1212 · High Card Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Johncx · Pair Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 40

Playing the hand (king rag isn't a good hand) was a bad idea in the first place with so many short stacks. He was looking for a spot to push all in you probably shouldn't have called either as blinds weren't too high and you didn't need to risk doubling him up. Keep up the practice, that's all I can say.

wiseman22 · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

again i'll repeat the call was fine but the original raise wasnt your best move. Try not to force situations to happen after reading, rather play your game and let the situations find you. all in all if the SB was holding 4,7 off you look like a genius, thats poker!

gl

huntforlife1 · Pair Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 26

read 7 books and down over 500? something doesnt make sense there

Totes2Techs · Full House Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 188

esperz · Full House Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 220

You already got beat down for the raise, so I won't get into too much of that. In my exp, trying to steal blinds from the short stacked is begging for trouble. Stealing someone who has you covered is only a little bit more risky. You'll want to know the reasoning. Reasons I state that is as someone already mentioned, the small stack will shove back (in tourney play) if they have much of anything. If someone has you covered, then you can expect a call, and when your flop doesn't hit (which will be 75% of the time or so with a high rag), you'll be folding to their raise (again, in tourney play).

After that, a call on the all-in, in my experience, is something of a luck draw. The blinds aren't that high the man will be going in anything below A10 or pairs. QJ is only a semi-option here... You'll be be paying 2x into your original bet for a possible 3x return. Pot odds are barely with you. My personal grievance is that if you were somewhat certain the man was holding any kind of pockets, or king anything, your odds just dropped to unacceptable levels.

mpittman187 · High Card Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 5

Everyone has different strategies on playing. If it was me in your position King rag would of been folded. With a stack that high, sometimes other people will eliminate themselves getting desperate. A small stack like that would of probably would of pushed wiht just about anything. I would probably pick better hands to do that with. Then everyone gets to see what you bullied with and there will be alot more callers when you do decide to push the table with good hands. I have played for 16 years and you can never predict what happens. Good Luck

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