Heads up EXTREME Short Stack

[Alameda]

Ive been playing at the $5.50s rather successfully, ive built my BR from $50 to $200.. Anyway I came upon this situation heads: up after taking a bad beat i was down to about 1.5 BBs, and I had a couple hands were i wasnt sure if I was making the right play. So if you could read through it and point out any obvious mistakes, i would love to be more prepared should i similar situation arise.

It should be an interesting read, it took quite a few oddities to keep me alive that long; i think the guy I was playing ended up sayin "gg" to me like 4 times.

PokerStars Game #3123412549: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:40:13 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (6420 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (7080 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
throughhiker: posts small blind 200
Alameda22: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Ad Ah]
throughhiker said, "thx"
throughhiker: calls 200
Alameda22: raises 800 to 1200
throughhiker: raises 5195 to 6395 and is all-in
Alameda22: calls 5195
throughhiker said, "gg"
*** FLOP *** [2d 9h Tc]
Alameda22 said, "lol"
throughhiker said, "lol"
*** TURN *** [2d 9h Tc] [Jd]
throughhiker said, "kkk"
*** RIVER *** [2d 9h Tc Jd] [Qd]
throughhiker said, "gg"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Alameda22: shows [Ad Ah] (a pair of Aces)
throughhiker: shows [Kc Ac] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Alameda22 said, "oh my god"
throughhiker collected 12840 from pot
throughhiker said, "what"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12840 | Rake 0
Board [2d 9h Tc Jd Qd]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) showed [Kc Ac] and won (12840) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) showed [Ad Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces



PokerStars Game #3123418025: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:40:50 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (12840 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (660 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts small blind 200
throughhiker: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [6c 4d]
Alameda22 said, "i saaw that one coming"
Alameda22: folds
throughhiker collected 450 from pot
throughhiker said, "wow"
throughhiker: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 450 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) collected (450)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #3123422243: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:41:07 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (13065 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (435 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
throughhiker: posts small blind 200
Alameda22: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Kh Qc]
throughhiker: raises 400 to 800
Alameda22: calls 10 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Th Jh 4h]
Alameda22 said, "9/A"
*** TURN *** [Th Jh 4h] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [Th Jh 4h 9d] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Alameda22: shows [Kh Qc] (a straight, Nine to King)
throughhiker: shows [6d 6c] (a pair of Sixes)
Alameda22 collected 870 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 870 | Rake 0
Board [Th Jh 4h 9d 8s]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) showed [6d 6c] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) showed [Kh Qc] and won (870) with a straight, Nine to King



PokerStars Game #3123426856: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:41:33 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (12630 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (870 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts small blind 200
throughhiker: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [6c 9c]
Alameda22 said, "this is amazing"
Alameda22: raises 445 to 845 and is all-in
throughhiker: calls 445
*** FLOP *** [8h Kd 5c]
*** TURN *** [8h Kd 5c] [5h]
Alameda22 said, "gg"
*** RIVER *** [8h Kd 5c 5h] [9s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
throughhiker: shows [9h Ts] (two pair, Nines and Fives)
Alameda22: shows [6c 9c] (two pair, Nines and Fives)
throughhiker said, "gg"
throughhiker collected 870 from pot
Alameda22 collected 870 from pot
Alameda22 said, "..."
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1740 | Rake 0
Board [8h Kd 5c 5h 9s]
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) showed [9h Ts] and won (870) with two pair, Nines and Fives
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) showed [6c 9c] and won (870) with two pair, Nines and Fives



PokerStars Game #3123433199: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:42:07 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (12630 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (870 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
throughhiker: posts small blind 200
Alameda22: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [4h Kd]
throughhiker: raises 400 to 800
Alameda22: raises 45 to 845 and is all-in
throughhiker: calls 45
*** FLOP *** [7c 4s 9d]
Alameda22 said, "**** again"
throughhiker said, "okay"
Alameda22 said, "..."
*** TURN *** [7c 4s 9d] [6s]
throughhiker said, "wtf"
*** RIVER *** [7c 4s 9d 6s] [5h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Alameda22: shows [4h Kd] (a pair of Fours)
throughhiker: shows [Ks Td] (high card King)
Alameda22 collected 1740 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1740 | Rake 0
Board [7c 4s 9d 6s 5h]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) showed [Ks Td] and lost with high card King
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) showed [4h Kd] and won (1740) with a pair of Fours



PokerStars Game #3123438366: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:42:35 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11760 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1740 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts small blind 200
throughhiker: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Tc 8d]
Alameda22 said, "chop?"
Alameda22: folds
throughhiker said, "?"
throughhiker collected 450 from pot
throughhiker: shows [Qd As] (high card Ace)
Alameda22 said, "im jk"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 450 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) collected (450)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #3123441331: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2005/11/21 - 22:42:52 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11985 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1515 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 25
Alameda22: posts the ante 25
throughhiker: posts small blind 200
Alameda22: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [4c 5c]
throughhiker: calls 200
Alameda22: checks
*** FLOP *** [5d Ks 8h]
Alameda22: bets 1090 and is all-in
throughhiker: folds
Alameda22 collected 850 from pot
Alameda22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 850 | Rake 0
Board [5d Ks 8h]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) collected (850)



PokerStars Game #3123445492: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:43:14 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11560 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1940 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts small blind 300
throughhiker: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [2d 3h]
Alameda22: folds
throughhiker collected 700 from pot
throughhiker: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 700 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) collected (700)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #3123447844: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:43:27 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11910 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1590 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
throughhiker: posts small blind 300
Alameda22: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Js 3c]
throughhiker: raises 600 to 1200
Alameda22: raises 340 to 1540 and is all-in
throughhiker: calls 340
*** FLOP *** [Jh 7h 7s]
throughhiker said, "okay"
Alameda22 said, "i cant fold there"
*** TURN *** [Jh 7h 7s] [8h]
Alameda22 said, "cmon ace"
Alameda22 said, "KQ"
*** RIVER *** [Jh 7h 7s 8h] [Qh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Alameda22: shows [Js 3c] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
throughhiker: shows [Td Jd] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
throughhiker said, "gg"
Alameda22 collected 1590 from pot
throughhiker collected 1590 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3180 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 7h 7s 8h Qh]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) showed [Td Jd] and won (1590) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) showed [Js 3c] and won (1590) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens



PokerStars Game #3123453013: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:43:56 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11910 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1590 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts small blind 300
throughhiker: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [7d Ac]
throughhiker said, "come on"
throughhiker said, "lol"
Alameda22 said, "this wont end"
Alameda22: raises 940 to 1540 and is all-in
Alameda22 said, "EVER"
throughhiker: folds
Alameda22 collected 1300 from pot
Alameda22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1300 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) collected (1300)



PokerStars Game #3123455996: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:44:12 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11260 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (2240 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
throughhiker: posts small blind 300
Alameda22: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Jh 5c]
throughhiker: calls 300
Alameda22: raises 1590 to 2190 and is all-in
throughhiker: folds
Alameda22 collected 1300 from pot
Alameda22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1300 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) collected (1300)



PokerStars Game #3123458389: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:44:24 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (10610 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (2890 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts small blind 300
throughhiker: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [7h 2c]
Alameda22: folds
throughhiker collected 700 from pot
throughhiker: shows [Qd Jd] (high card Queen)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 700 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) collected (700)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #3123460079: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:44:34 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (10960 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (2540 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
throughhiker: posts small blind 300
Alameda22: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Kh 3c]
throughhiker: raises 600 to 1200
Alameda22 said, "7/2o"
Alameda22: folds
throughhiker collected 1300 from pot
throughhiker: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1300 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) collected (1300)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #3123464302: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:44:57 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (11610 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (1890 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts small blind 300
throughhiker: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [8s 3h]
Alameda22: raises 1240 to 1840 and is all-in
throughhiker: folds
Alameda22 collected 1300 from pot
Alameda22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1300 | Rake 0
Seat 2: throughhiker (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Alameda22 (button) (small blind) collected (1300)



PokerStars Game #3123466774: Tournament #15442634, Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2005/11/21 - 22:45:10 (ET)
Table '15442634 1' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: throughhiker (10960 in chips)
Seat 4: Alameda22 (2540 in chips)
throughhiker: posts the ante 50
Alameda22: posts the ante 50
throughhiker: posts small blind 300
Alameda22: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Alameda22 [Jc 2h]
throughhiker: raises 2400 to 3000
Alameda22: calls 1890 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [3d Th Js]
throughhiker said, "wtf?"
*** TURN *** [3d Th Js] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [3d Th Js 6h] [9h]
throughhiker said, "heart"
Alameda22 said, "gg"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Alameda22: shows [Jc 2h] (a pair of Jacks)
throughhiker: shows [Kh 4h] (a flush, King high)
throughhiker said, "gg"
throughhiker collected 5080 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5080 | Rake 0
Board [3d Th Js 6h 9h]
Seat 2: throughhiker (button) (small blind) showed [Kh 4h] and won (5080) with a flush, King high
Seat 4: Alameda22 (big blind) showed [Jc 2h] and lost with a pair of Jacks

[zenbitz]

I would not have called the all-in with J2. I probably wouldn't have raised with J3 either, he only has another 300 to call.

It's one thing to open-push a crappy hand, but why call when you are probably a 2:1 dog or coin-flip at the very best (vs. like T7)?

[jukejointroach]

don't fold in the small blind heads up. there's thousand on the table and 300 to call. any two cards are good enough there.

[Fortune 500]

That short stacked... I'm pushing ANY TWO, all the time.

You've lost any room to play poker... now you just gotta get lucky.

Later on when you've got a couple small blinds... Ehh, I still push. Who am I kidding?

All you can do is apply pressure with the chips you have. If you get called, so what?

[gabe]

That short stacked... I'm pushing ANY TWO, all the time.

You've lost any room to play poker... now you just gotta get lucky.

Later on when you've got a couple small blinds... Ehh, I still push. Who am I kidding?

All you can do is apply pressure with the chips you have. If you get called, so what?

yup

push push push

and call for all your chips if you are getting good odds

[zenbitz]

I recind my objection. I just hate having to call with a 2 or a 3 - but the blinds were bigger than I thought, you have to call here. You are 44-45% vs random and 40-41% vs average or better ( I looked it up). Even with 0 FE, you cannot fold.

In case anyone else is confused - what matters here is not the ratio of your stack to his, but yours to the blinds (i.e, M<3). Your M has to be at least 4 before you can consider folding your BB with ANY 2.

[Aplomado]

Push every hand when you're that short stacked. What are you waiting for, Aces?