Stars $22, getting short. ATo

[DogOnMySide]

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t50/t100
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: t2625
UTG+1: t1955
CO: t2175
Hero: t1950
SB: t1650
BB: t3145

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is Button with T A
3 folds, Hero raises to t400, SB folds, BB calls t300.

Flop: 9 6 K (t850, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: 4 (t850, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t400, BB calls t400.

River: 2 (t1650, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Results posted later

Can you dig that? Or is it weak? What do you put him on?

[donkbee]

Why no c-bet? Were you c-betting a lot and didn't want to this time or something? If you don't bet the flop, I don't see how you can bet the turn. Flop bet is much better IMO, or am I missing something here

Also, is there a particular reason why you raise it to 400 instead of 300? Was 300 not enough to take the blinds at this table? Just wondering 'cause 300 would keep the pot smaller and enable you to bet less post flop.

[drmcboy]

yeah 300, 250 if possible pre flop, then bet the flop, then give up. PP folds a lot more on the flop than turn. You're not folding AK or KQ either way. If another over had come, maybe I could see trying the turn. Personally I call or raise that weak sauce turn bet with anything.

I like 9x, 77, 88.

[DogOnMySide]

I don't know why no c-bet. I put in the raise for it then thought... no... not this time. I thought a K was a likely holding. But I very very very rarely check twice, and almost never when Heads Up.

Important thing that i forgot: I had raised the button twice of the last 3 orbits with non-hands and got fold-fold

[fjuanl]

I think raising to 300 or 250 would be better also. i think if he was slowplaying the king he would lead the turn after you checked behind. I put him on 77-QQ

[Staresy]

I put him on 77-QQ

As his hole cards? you don't think that these hands re-raise a button steal from a guy who has done it 2 of last 3 orbits?

[DogOnMySide]

What does BB and Big Stack who I have pushed around a little call 400 with?

What does same player call 250 with?

By raising less are you not just inviting a call with a random hand, and hence asking for trouble?

I agree with the c-bet of course... but a flop like that hits a crap hand quite often, IMO. So surely working backwards we want to prevent crap hands getting in cheap?

Is my thinking too rigid?

[drmcboy]

so you bet the 400 and then checked the flop anyway? your thinking makes no sense.

Crap hands would hopefully fold to the K you're repping.

If people are calling 250, go to 300. I would never go beyond 300, that's plenty of a mistake for them to make. 400 just helps them fold bad hands and costs you more when you run into a good one.

[DogOnMySide]

Wow, that's really interesting. My standard SnG pf raise is 4xBB and has been for a while. Will give 3x a try tonight if i get a chance, and see how it feels/works.

Villain showed down 89 off suit. I guess he was just playing sherriff. A c-bet might have got rid of him or it might not. It would have been the better play though.

Thanks.

[Staresy]

when the blinds hit 50/100, I think the 3xBB is enough. 4xBB before then though.

[donkbee]

when the blinds hit 50/100, I think the 3xBB is enough. 4xBB before then though.

Yeah for sure, although it can depend on the table. I usually go 3xBB at 50/100 and then 2.5xBB at 75/150 (as do many other players on this forum).

[drmcboy]

I do 100+ 10/20, 120+ 15/30, 150 20/40 (UB), 25/50 sometimes I start 3x, usually stay with 4, depends on how much raising I've done. Then at 50/100 I'll try out 250, if the whole table calls 3x it is. Once Antes kick in I'll stay with 3x until they get really high (more in MTTs, but works for 2+table SNGs), then hopefully some donkey will start min raising and you can easily get folds with 2.5.

Overbetting pre flop, IMO, is hidden leak many have, indicating fear of flop.

[donkbee]

Overbetting pre flop, IMO, is hidden leak many have, indicating fear of flop.

Yeah, I totally agree and definitely know what you mean. A lot of the times when I'm raising with the intent of taking the blinds, I'll consider raising it more than usual for a split second because I'll think to myself, man I really hope I'm not called. But then I realize how retarded that thought was and raise the standard amount, haha. Fearing the flop is a terrible thing.

[Staresy]

It can also be a huge tell

[drmcboy]

right, you fire off your 4x with KJo, then decide to 'mix it up' with AA and go 2.5. Because you aren't afraid to play a flop with that. Which is really bad, the lack of fear is because you're putting your chips in whatever happens.