How Do You Play This?

[Khabbi]

Game #1237432729 (Level VII, Game #7) - 150/300 No Limit Texas Hold'em - 2006/01/23-23:14:40.7 (CST)
Table "Hookipa" ($5 tournament) -- Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: nottakenname (2,305.00 in chips)
Seat 3: IAchiefs (800.00 in chips)
Seat 4: SGF66 (690.00 in chips)
Seat 7: flower8 (3,095.00 in chips)
Seat 8: crazyazgirl (525.00 in chips)
Seat 10: Ranneyroad (2,585.00 in chips)
Ranneyroad: Post Small Blind (150)
nottakenname: Post Big Blind (300)
Dealing...
Dealt to nottakenname [ Jh ]
Dealt to nottakenname [ 7h ]
IAchiefs: Fold
SGF66 : Fold
flower8 : Raise (600)
crazyazgirl: Call All-in (525)
Ranneyroad: Fold
nottakenname: Call (300)
*** FLOP *** : [ 3c Jc 8d ]
nottakenname: ???

[nogenius]

I don't like the call PF.

But given that you hit top pair, albeit a weak kicker, the majority of the time you will be ahead here, so I would try to get it all-in on the flop.

[taipan168]

I agree, I don't like the call PF. Even though you're getting 4.75 to 1 odds on the additional 300 chips, J7o is most likely weaker than both the raiser and the short stack's hand. If it was the short stack in the SB pushing all-in against me in the BB I would insta-call but against two players I think you're behind.

However, as nogenius wrote, given you hit top pair I think you have to push. If either opp has a better jack then nh, gg.

[Khabbi]

I did push on the flop and the big stack had JT, putting me out of the SNG in 5th place with two small stacks behind me.

I have been running about as bad as I can imagine and this type of play has been knocking me out on the bubble every time.

Last game, I was knocked out in 5th holding 89s on a 559 board. My opponent had A9. How can I get away from these hands in an SNG when I hit top pair. How can I always seem to be outkicked?

[Warpe]

I don't like the call PF.

I agree, I don't like the call PF.

How can I get away from these hands in an SNG when I hit top pair. How can I always seem to be outkicked?

Stop calling with marginal hands.

[Sprayed]

I don't like the call PF.

I agree, I don't like the call PF.

How can I get away from these hands in an SNG when I hit top pair. How can I always seem to be outkicked?

Stop calling with marginal hands.

I think it's clear. I concur. Be patient.

[Khabbi]

I need to be more patient... I need to be more patient... I need to be more patient...

[cardsman1992]

Last game, I was knocked out in 5th holding 89s on a 559 board. My opponent had A9. How can I get away from these hands in an SNG when I hit top pair. How can I always seem to be outkicked?

Suited connectors play like crap when you are down to 5 players and you know only 2 or 3 go to the flop max. Especially 89s and below. I don't like T9 suited that late, either. Too easy to get outkicked (as you are finding out). Unless you are ripptyde...but that guy plays a game I am not familiar with, as Bobby Jones (I think) said about Jack Nicklaus.

I don't like the preflop call with the suited J either. I try to avoid suited Js (with 9 or below) if possible. Too easy to get sucked into the pot if you catch a piece. That being said, I bet you are behind on the flop. I can let it go and wait for a better spot with your stack. You aren't dead yet if you let it go. But I understand the reasons for pushing too. I wouldn't have been within a mile of this hand though....

[mcatdog]

You really need to be super super tight when you have a medium stack, there's one big stack, and a bunch of small stacks. You have way too much to lose to be playing garbage hands against the big stack. In this situation, basically if you don't make the money then you probably made a big mistake.

Also you need to pay attention to what the other players are telling you with their bets. A lot of times the big stack would just call and you guys would check it down to eliminate the short stack. By raising he's saying "I have a strong enough hand that I can take out this guy by myself," and therefore for you to get involved with a bad hand, is just an awful idea. I'm surprised he didn't have a better hand than JT.

[Sprayed]

When in position late in a tourney and you havea healthy stack, I don't mind raising with suited connectors for a steal attempt. But don't call a substantial raise that might hurt your stack with suited connectors.

[cardsman1992]

When in position late in a tourney and you havea healthy stack, I don't mind raising with suited connectors for a steal attempt. But don't call a substantial raise that might hurt your stack with suited connectors.

Agreed. I should have added that they play better if you are the agressor with them late (down to 5). But I wouldn't call substantial raises with them as you said.

Also, with the stack positions the way they were, I could definitely wait for another hand. Bubbling out because of a bad call would piss me off. He was hanging out in the top 3 and I would have protected that and let the small stack eliminate himself. Probably a little passive, but...

[konahead]

if you don't want to get caught with a shitty kicker, don't play shitty kickers.....