Crippling hand

[swiggidy]

I've had about 3 decent hands all game, and none of them have hit any part of the flop.

I had 900 when the blinds hit 100. I got to this point by going all-in 7 times, 5 times with a limper in front and once with a min-raise in front. Everyone folded (including the big stack in the BB 3 times).

I figured I would take a stab at a blind steal, since the table was week. I get called by the short stack. 2 questions. Should I have even played this hand (I wasn't going to push this hand), or waited for a better chance since I'm barely treading water? What should I do on this flop?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP2 (t1285)
CO (t2075)
Button (t1370)
SB (t1655)
BB (t8345)
UTG (t1955)
UTG+1 (t12868)
Hero (t2670)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A, 8.
2 folds, Hero raises to t600, 2 folds, Button calls t600, 2 folds.

Flop: (t1375) J, 7, 9 (2 players)
My action in white:
Hero bets t800, Button calls t745 (All-In).

[lowBoy]

After pushing a lot in the previous few orbits I'd wait it out a little longer here - you've got a couple of orbits to catch a better hand before you're even at 10xBB.

[Rondavu]

After playing a lot of poker I can tell you that pushing a jack high flop has less fold equity against a wide range. I've begun pushing when I raise AJ or KJ and catch that jack, because I get lots of calls from hands that are behind.

You get called too often on a push here.

[Fnord]

I hate checking more than pushing and can't imagine how we can possibly fold here.

[mcatdog]

If we changed the results to "Button folds," would everyone in this thread be saying "You have to put him all-in, he probably missed that flop." That's the problem with posting results.

There's a good chance you're ahead and you probably have 7 outs even if you're behind. Also, you've already bet nearly half of Button's stack. Not getting all-in on the flop would be pretty bad.

[zenbitz]

I don't really fault the steal, but you have to hate the flat call here.
He will be all-in on this flop, unless it's a-high and he holds no ace no pair.

What could he possibly call you with?
A pair (he's ahead)
2 paint cards (it's very close)
desperate middle suited connectors (he's likely ahead)
AX (50-50)

1500 behind. 800 in his stack. 3:1 odds, I make it. You probably have 7 outs at least. Maybe only the gutshot 4.

I'm surprised - I thought this was a clear fold, but you have a marginal check/call or push here. The exception is if he's really trappy and you think his flat pre-flop call reps strength (AK/Q JJ+). If you think he's weak and might concievably fold anything on this flop, then I lean towards betting.

A check/fold to conserve a stack isn't bad either. You actually don't need to bet to win here with your gutshot. Maybe he accidentally hit the call button with 64 and is happy to check it down.

[swiggidy]

Thanks for the advice. I think that I was correct to try and steal, because the BB had given me several blinds already. If any other stack had called I would probably have check/folded that flop. If they had pushed pre-flop I would have laid it down. This would have put me into push/fold mode.

I was disappointed because the table was so week that I had built a decent stack without playing any hands. Until I ran into the short stack.

Could/would you have folded to the SB all-in pre-flop? 3:1 odds but it's 1/3 of my stack and he's only pushing with a pair, Ax, or two paint? So either barely ahead or way behind. I would say fold right now, but I would probably call in the heat of battle.

After playing a lot of poker I can tell you that pushing a jack high flop has less fold equity against a wide range. I've begun pushing when I raise AJ or KJ and catch that jack, because I get lots of calls from hands that are behind.

That's interesting. I will keep this in mind next time I'm ahead (or not ahead).

That's the problem with posting results.

The fact that he called my all-in counts as showing results? I didn't show his hand. He did miss the flop but called and beat me [AQ].

[TLR]

I would fold preflop, you are out of position with a marginal hand for an almost full table.

I cant fault pushing the flop the way it played

[Khabbi]

Thanks for the advice. I think that I was correct to try and steal, because the BB had given me several blinds already.

His calling range is getting wider each time you steal his blinds. Maybe he's laying down AQ the first time, not the second time though, and surely on the third time.

Have you been stealing with 3x raises in the past, or have they been push steals. If he sees you pushing big hands, he might think that this 3x steal is a sign of weakness, and he'd be right.

You have a bad hand and BB is getting a little frisky with you stealing his blinds so many times before. Give it a rest for a round and he'll be less likely to call.

[swiggidy]

Have you been stealing with 3x raises in the past, or have they been push steals. If he sees you pushing big hands, he might think that this 3x steal is a sign of weakness, and he'd be right.

I had been pushing, because I was below 10BB. If anything I think he would be concerned that I didn't push and was actually looking for action right now.

BB is getting a little frisky with you stealing his blinds so many times before. Give it a rest for a round and he'll be less likely to call.

But, the BB didn't call me. The button (small stack) did. I had laid down some marginally better hands becaus the short stack was the BB and I didn't want to mess with him. This BB was obviously camping for the final table. He wouldn't have called with anything less than JJ+, AK+. And, if he had called I would have given up the hand.

[Aplomado]

I agree with TLR. Position is bad here, you've got a lot of people to push through to get to the blinds. You've got plenty of chips so let this one go.

Past hands have no bearing on future hands.

[pgil]

Past hands have no bearing on future hands.

but past play, and known tendencies have a huge bearing on future hands.

[Aplomado]

but past play, and known tendencies have a huge bearing on future hands.

Sure, I'm just responding to the common complaint that "these are the best cards i've seen all night"

[swiggidy]

Sure, I'm just responding to the common complaint that "these are the best cards i've seen all night"

Lol, I've finally fixed this leak.

:Ks::Th:
OMG, I haven't seen a slightly connected face card in 3 orbits. Hmm, one limper and a min-raise? ...

ALL-IN!!!

[nickthefool]

Sure, I'm just responding to the common complaint that "these are the best cards i've seen all night"

I made this mistake yesterday - tried a silly bluff against someone who had flopped the nut straight twice in the first 10 hands thinking "they can't have a monster every time" They had flopped top trips which because a full house.