3 replies to this topic

[Tehol]

Hey guys, I played my biggest live tournament (in terms of prize pool) to date this last weekend and, as has been the general rule lately, I messed up. I'll post two key hands here that sealed my fate.I would greatly appreciate any comments on my play and suggestions on how I can improve.The Tournament:10000 Starting Chips, 20 players.Hand 1: Blinds are 100-200 with a 25 ante. I'm just under average with around 9500. I'm on the button and the other guys in the hand are MP1 and BB, 9-handed table. So far BB has been tight and MP1 has raised and won the blinds twice, but it's still very early on. Me: 5 - 5 MP1 raises to 400Button (me) callsBB calls(Pot is 1525)So the three of us see the flop that comes: 6 - 3 - 2 BB checks, MP1 checks, I bet 1200, BB folds, MP1 raises 2000 more (after staring me down for 2 minutes)What to do? I ended up folding even though I couldn't believe he would play an overpair like that. Hand 2: Blinds 150-300 with a 25 ante. I'm short stack with approximatly 6k, average stack being 12k. Still 9-handed table and it's me (on the SB) and UTG in the hand. UTG has just been moved to our table and in two hands he has been at our table he has been aggressive and has won the blinds once and seen a flop the other.Me: J - J UTG raises to 900Everyone else foldsI reraise to 2500, leaving me with a little more than 3kUTG calls(Pot is 5525)Flop comes: Q - 7 - 3 I checkUTG bets 2000I decide to go for it and throws in my last 3000UTG calls and shows K - Q for a pair of Queens and the flush draw.Turn and river blanks out and I'm out.I think I made several errors here so any suggestions are welcome. I couldn't use the converter since this is all form my memory.Thanks alot for any help.Tehol

[copernicus]

Hand 1: I dont like your flop bet. While its tempting to try and "protect" them, there are two other players and you are vulnerable to a lot of overcards or overpairs. A check raise with an overpair is pretty common. When your hand is marginal and you have a monster draw you dont want to bet, because you have pretty much have to fold to a reraise, and you dont get to see the draw.If you were in middle position here, instead of closing out the action, then your bet is a bit better.Hand 2: Youre pot committed after your raise anyway, so push preflop and dont let him see a flop with a marginal hand.

[Tehol]

Thanks and I agree on hand 1.Instead of pushing pre flop on hand 2 is it possible that just calling might be an alternative?I certainly don't want BB in the hand when I have JJ but I'm not sure I want to push either.

[copernicus]

Calling isnt horrible on hand 2. The reason I prefer the push is you are out of position, and if an overcard flops (just about half the time) you have to fold to a continuation bet. If an overcard doesnt flop and you want to play you have to price out overcard draws , which means more than a 1/2 pot bet....say 1500,, and UTG probably calls if hes a decent sized stack., and youve invested nearly half your stack anyway. If youre going to bet more to price him out on the flop, you may as well do it pre-flop.