This is a $2 tourney on stars. close to the money i think.

Does anyone like the way he played the hand? can you guys give me any arguments for either side? thanks!


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FCP)

UTG (t4627)
UTG+1 (t12238)
MP1 (t16250)
MP2 (t4650)
MP3 (t4105)
CO (t17750)
Button (t8535)
SB (t12264)
Hero (t5440)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K , K .
2 folds, MP1 raises to t1200, 5 folds, Hero calls t800.

Flop: (t2600) J , 9 , 6 (2 players) Hero pushes

I think if you're gonna slow-play them like that for value you should check the flop. Villain will usually c-bet and then you can push.

his thinking was that he was playing it like a stop and go...push if an ace doesnt hit i guess.

That gives up way too much value here. It would be fine with middle pairs. Check raise, and the raise shouldnt be allin unless its so close to an allin that its obvious youre trying to draw him in.

thats what i said. he said he is making this play to avoid as much variance as possible. if he pushes preflop, a lone ace almost has the correct odds to call him...can anyone else make an argument for his side?

Trying to avoid variance this way loses tons of value..Trying to avoid variance period with KK is just a weak and incorrect way of playing..Unless the opponent is weak, hes gonna c/bet when an ace flops anyways, so we get outplayed by tons of hands when an ace does flop

close to the money at 200/400 blinds? is that normal at pokerstars?

Trying to avoid variance!!?? Isn't that like trying to avoid gravity?

EDIT: Sorry not very constructive.

Well considering he's OOP a c/bet is very likely as the guy was also the preflop raiser.

But why do a stop n go with KK? It's a $2 tourney, just bet for value on every street. If he'd of reraised preflop we would have some idea of the strength of this guys hand and whether or not he'd call a push because we want him to call right?

It is for their 20% payout structure tournies.

A typical primetime $2 has around 3k players. Top 600 get paid. First hour and the field is usually around 1k. Money bubble usually breaks before the end of the second hour. FT takes another 3 hours to get to. And there is no real money before the FT. Nothing worse than playing for 5 hours...busting out in 15th for an $8 win when first is paying $600.