First, my apologies to loyal followers of my blog. It is not that I have not been playing poker that I have failed to post, but probably playing too much and other activities (will write about these soon). I really feel my tournament play is sub par, maybe because playing more cash? Age? Senility? So a couple of examples from recent games and ask what you would do.
Playing a $40 morning tournament, I am chip leader early, snapping pocket aces with pocket 4's on a 4/6/6 flop. The regular good player on my immediate right raises. I generally respect his game but he sometimes raises a little light with suited connectors or two face cards. I have pocket 8's. I call as does a loose aggressive player in the blinds. I have both covered. The flop comes K/J/10, all hearts. I have the 8 of hearts. Loose bets big, other player calls. I consider and fold. They get them all in on the turn, river is an 8. Neither player had a heart, regular wins with K/Q. I would have eliminated both of them who made final table. In retrospect the correct play for me was reraising preflop to isolate. I think he respects my game enough to fold, if not, I win on the river anyway. What would you Do?
The second mistake in a different tournament was basically the same thing, failing to re-raise with a strong hand. This time a few limpers, button raise, my small blind is A/K. I flat call, others call, the flop is small, coordinated and suited, big bet, we fold. Again the best play in my opinion was a preflop shove re-raise. Do you agree?
It seems like I am playing too passively, probably a result of too much Omaha where pocket aces need to see a cheap flop, and all strong hands can be destroyed on the flop. Also it is cash vs. Tournament play, where trapping with big hands is a good line.
Playing a $40 morning tournament, I am chip leader early, snapping pocket aces with pocket 4's on a 4/6/6 flop. The regular good player on my immediate right raises. I generally respect his game but he sometimes raises a little light with suited connectors or two face cards. I have pocket 8's. I call as does a loose aggressive player in the blinds. I have both covered. The flop comes K/J/10, all hearts. I have the 8 of hearts. Loose bets big, other player calls. I consider and fold. They get them all in on the turn, river is an 8. Neither player had a heart, regular wins with K/Q. I would have eliminated both of them who made final table. In retrospect the correct play for me was reraising preflop to isolate. I think he respects my game enough to fold, if not, I win on the river anyway. What would you Do?
The second mistake in a different tournament was basically the same thing, failing to re-raise with a strong hand. This time a few limpers, button raise, my small blind is A/K. I flat call, others call, the flop is small, coordinated and suited, big bet, we fold. Again the best play in my opinion was a preflop shove re-raise. Do you agree?
It seems like I am playing too passively, probably a result of too much Omaha where pocket aces need to see a cheap flop, and all strong hands can be destroyed on the flop. Also it is cash vs. Tournament play, where trapping with big hands is a good line.
1 comment:
Nice to see a post!
As to the first hand you wrote about - I would have just called with 88. I would NOT have re-raised to isolate. I don't feel 88 is strong enough to re-raise with. That's just me. I would prefer to see if I flop a set or perhaps get a 7-high flop or straight draw, etc. I don't like re-raising to isolate unless I have a pretty darn big hand, most likely QQ or higher. If there's no set or draw then fold to any bet. Easy peasy.
On the second hand I do believe you should have raised with AK in the small blind. That hand hates me but I would have done it anyway. You don't have good position there so you need to try and get some players out and hope for the best. You just got a crappy flop. I would have folded AK on that flop too.
Pendleton: I'm playing the first Friday tournament on November 2. I want to play the senior event as well, but that will probably be outcome dependent LOL. If I don't see you - good luck!!
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