$5.25 HU SnG

[kettleofish]

First one I've played. Wasn't very long, but I've never really played any deep stacked HU before, so I thought i'd see if any of my lines are hugely spewy.

The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

---Tournament Summary---
$5.50 SNG: Finished 1/2 for $10
Data for 14 hands.
You played 9 hands (64.29%)
You raised 5 times preflop (35.71%)


-----Hand 1-----
Hero's M = 50.00
PokerStars Game #11365389916: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:16:07 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1500 in chips)
kettleofish: posts small blind 10
aus_slong: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt 4 5
kettleofish: raises 40 to 60
aus_slong: calls 40
Flop: K 6 4
aus_slong: checks
kettleofish: bets 80
aus_slong: folds
kettleofish collected 120 from pot
kettleofish: doesn't show hand


3 4 BB (M = 52.00; r+F)
Q 5 SB (M = 51.33; F)

-----Hand 2-----
Hero's M = 51.00
PokerStars Game #11365405874: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:17:04 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1530 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1470 in chips)
aus_slong: posts small blind 10
kettleofish: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt T 7
aus_slong: calls 10
kettleofish: checks
Flop: J Q 5
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: bets 40
kettleofish: folds
aus_slong collected 40 from pot
aus_slong: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 3-----
Hero's M = 50.33
PokerStars Game #11365411622: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:17:25 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1510 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1490 in chips)
kettleofish: posts small blind 10
aus_slong: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt J J
kettleofish: calls 10
aus_slong: checks
Flop: 2 5 8
aus_slong: bets 40
kettleofish: raises 80 to 120
aus_slong: calls 80
Turn: 3
aus_slong: checks
kettleofish: bets 180
aus_slong: calls 180
River: 6
aus_slong: checks
kettleofish: checks << I smelt a rat here, as he called reaaal quick on the turn but spent a good while before checking the river. I figured him for a straight, not 2 pair. Teach me for slowplaying JJ
Showdown:
aus_slong: shows 5 3 (two pair, Fives and Threes)
kettleofish: shows J J (a pair of Jacks)
aus_slong collected 640 from pot


Q 8 BB (Folded to kettleofish.)

-----Hand 4-----
Hero's M = 40.00
PokerStars Game #11365426815: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:18:19 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1200 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1800 in chips)
kettleofish: posts small blind 10
aus_slong: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt J 9
kettleofish: raises 40 to 60
aus_slong: raises 120 to 180
kettleofish: folds
aus_slong collected 120 from pot
aus_slong: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 5-----
Hero's M = 38.00
PokerStars Game #11365434120: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:18:45 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1140 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1860 in chips)
aus_slong: posts small blind 10
kettleofish: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt 4 9
aus_slong: calls 10
kettleofish: checks
Flop: 8 A 4
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: checks
Turn: 4
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: checks
River: Q
kettleofish: bets 80
aus_slong: raises 100 to 180
kettleofish: calls 100 < was too scared of the flush draw to reraise. Prolly should bet the turn, but my SPS got me some extra chips
Showdown:
aus_slong: shows Q 2 (two pair, Queens and Fours)
kettleofish: shows 4 9 (three of a kind, Fours)
kettleofish collected 400 from pot


4 T SB (M = 44.67; F)

-----Hand 6-----
Hero's M = 44.33
PokerStars Game #11365444864: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:19:24 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1330 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1670 in chips)
aus_slong: posts small blind 10
kettleofish: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt A 7
aus_slong: calls 10
kettleofish: raises 60 to 80
aus_slong: calls 60
Flop: J A K
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: checks
Turn: A
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: checks
River: A
kettleofish: bets 160
aus_slong: calls 160
Showdown:
kettleofish: shows A 7 (four of a kind, Aces)
aus_slong: mucks hand
kettleofish collected 480 from pot

Definitely want thoughts on the above hand. I guess i felt if i bet the flop then the only hand that would call me would either have me crushed (10 Q, Ax where x=8+, or a slowplayed JJ KK) or a club flush draw. Same on turn, he's gotta put me on an A if i bet there, right? Lucky for me the 3rd A fell on the river so i guess he didn't believe me.

-----Hand 7-----
Hero's M = 52.33
PokerStars Game #11365453487: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:19:55 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1570 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1430 in chips)
kettleofish: posts small blind 10
aus_slong: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt 8 T
kettleofish: raises 40 to 60
aus_slong: calls 40
Flop: A Q 9
aus_slong: bets 100
kettleofish: folds
aus_slong collected 120 from pot
aus_slong: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 8-----
Hero's M = 50.33
PokerStars Game #11365459093: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:20:15 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1510 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1490 in chips)
aus_slong: posts small blind 10
kettleofish: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt T A
aus_slong: calls 10
kettleofish: raises 60 to 80
aus_slong: calls 60
Flop: 5 J 7
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: checks
Turn: 9
kettleofish: bets 120
aus_slong: folds
kettleofish collected 160 from pot
kettleofish: doesn't show hand


A 3 SB (M = 53.00; F)

-----Hand 9-----
Hero's M = 52.67
PokerStars Game #11365471025: Tournament #57667366, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/07 - 19:20:57 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '57667366 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: kettleofish (1580 in chips)
Seat 2: aus_slong (1420 in chips)
aus_slong: posts small blind 10
kettleofish: posts big blind 20
Preflop: kettleofish dealt K 7
aus_slong: calls 10
kettleofish: checks
Flop: 7 4 2
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: bets 100
kettleofish: calls 100
Turn: 3
kettleofish: checks
aus_slong: bets 240
kettleofish: raises 260 to 500
aus_slong: calls 260
River: 8
kettleofish: bets 960 and is all-in
aus_slong: calls 800 and is all-in
Showdown:
kettleofish: shows K 7 (a pair of Sevens)
aus_slong: shows T 7 (a pair of Sevens - lower kicker)
kettleofish collected 2840 from pot

I've a sneaking suspicion my play in that last hand will lose me more matches than it'll win

The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

Any total fuckups? It looks like i'm a passive shit postflop, but the general idea was to make him think that i slowplayed good hands so i could bet into him with good hands and get him to call down light.

[Zee Devee]

Hand 5: Bet the flop. Most of the time a pair on the flop is best, so bet it- if he raises, fold (most of the time unless for metagame purposes), if he calls- re evaluate.

Hand 6: Very passive here. I don't like it. Bet the flop here, and the turn, so you can get it all in on the river.

Ah 3c SB (M = 53.00; F)- Very bad here. Any hand with an A HU is very strong. Raise here.

The last hand I think is fine. A lot of people will stack off with TPWK.

Good job on the win!

[bjsaust]

Hand 6, even if you dont bet the flop, you need to bet the turn. At this point only QT or a boat has you beaten. You should like those odds and bet to make money. Once river hits and you know you have the nuts you can bet confidently.

[bjsaust]

Oops, missed this was HU. Let me go through it a bit more closely.

Hand 1: Good that you know to raise wide, this is a bit too wide for me though. I complete this PF.

QHeart 5Spade SB (M = 51.33; F) - I probably raise this PF. I raise pretty much any A, any K, any Q and most J hole cards.

Hand 3: I raise this PF, but not terrible as played.

Hand 4: GF.

Hand 5: Why arent you betting? Dont be too worried about flushes on a board like this. I like your river play, would prefer to see you betting at least turn and probably flop. Dont be results oriented, usually your slowplay does not pay off here.

Hand 6: What did he muck here? Regardless, TP is a winner HU. The only reason for concern here is that he hasnt raised yet, so we cant completely confidently rule out certain hands, but you have every reason to believe you're ahead here. I'd bet flop planning to check/call turn and river, but once the A's start coming, I'd be still betting. Dont give opps too narrow a range when they complete HU.

Hand 7: Again I probably just limp this, fine as played.

Hand 8: c-bet flop.

Hand 9: I dont get your turn raise. You actually took the time to move the slider 20 chips more than a min-raise? Other than that, it looks fine. You have a solid hand and you played it strongly. Normally I'm not a fan of getting it AI this early with TP, and might well have taken a passive line of just calling to the river, but with that flop a lot of people think they're ahead with worse hands.

[kettleofish]

Thanks for the feedback guys. HU is obviously a different mindset than regular SNG, will take a while before i get a feel of what hands are raise-worthy. Aust, you'd really raise most Jx hands?

Regarding my turn slightly more than min-raise, i'm not sure what i was up to. Feeling frisky perhaps?

I'll check what he mucked on hand 6 when i get home, just for giggles.

[bjsaust]

I probably raise Jacks down to J5. I probably should raise all jacks.

Heres the thing, in HU TP is probably the most common 'premium' hand. One description I've heard is to think of TP HU as being equal to a set in a standard game. Thats a fairly good way to think of it. So if you hit TP with an A, K, Q or J, you're almost certainly ahead. Thats one reason why I prefer to raise something like Q4o than 78s. The times you hit a straight of flush on the flop are few and far between (or even draws), so normally these hands give you middle or bottom pair, which just creates potential for problems. Middle pair is often a winning hand, but are you going to call bets on each street with it? Tough spot.

[kettleofish]

He mucked J5o in hand 6. I guess it's hard to fold a FH when i've not bet on either the flop or turn. Might play a few more of these tonight, they make a nice change of pace from the 9man turbo's.

[Sheetah]

Strategically, I like. Playing aggressive in position and carefully OOP is exactly what you're supposed to. You understand this well.

As for details ...

Hand 3:
Limping here is a mistake IMO. If you play aggressively on the button, than raising w/ real hands is a must for various reasons; you have no reason to expect villain to donk raise OOP; you miss value here especially since in Hand 1 villain has already shown he would call pfr oop and c/f to cbet. And the fact that in the very first hand (where most players are conservative) he called OOP hoping to hit places him into 'chaser' category -> this is the opponent you should value bet, not slowplay.

Hand 5:
Start extracting on the turn. And don't be afraid of made flush (cause, well this is HU, where made hands are very rare, not FR fish fest) and be afraid of flush draw so make him pay for it.

Hand 6:
OMG heavy draw flop and the villain is chaser - bet the flop, bet the turn, bet the river

Hand 8:
I cbet flops like this 100% of the time

Hand 9:

I've a sneaking suspicion my play in that last hand will lose me more matches than it'll win

If you mean turn c/r and river shove, I strongly agree.

Lets go street by street:
Preflop: his call means [censored] - a.k.a. any two
Flop: it's time to narrow his range ... strong bet is definitely something ... since he gravitates towards passive side draw is less likely, but remote possibility ... made hand is more likely - what made hands? ... PPs? everything but 33 55 66 crushes you ... 42? ... or [7, something] provided something =/= A, 4, 2 ... and he bet 100 into 40 pot
Turn: now he pots it By now it's pretty clear he's not semi bluffing but betting a made hand and you RAISE !???
River: desperate shove that will get you burned way more often than not.

The only hand you could hope him to have is luckily the one he had. And speaking of luck - in order that to happen both of you had to have for ex. 7 and you to have higher second card (what are the odds on that?) and flop comes 7 high and since both of you have it there are only two remaining that should come on the flop ... In a weird sense you committed your stack on two outer. Very lucky!

As you get more experience (and in case you know but forgot somehow) you'll notice that fishy gamblers chase all the time, but once they hit - they get impatient and try to get paid right away -> fear of their overbets. Folding on this flop and passing marginal 'edge' is not weak; folding on the turn is way better than raising. Sure enough, sometimes they'll donk with their smallish top pair like this one, but once again: what are the odds on that!?

Overall, I like how you play strategically (position-wise); You should start value betting more, slowplaying less and you'll be fine.

[bjsaust]

Hand 9:

I've a sneaking suspicion my play in that last hand will lose me more matches than it'll win

If you mean turn c/r and river shove, I strongly agree.

Lets go street by street:
Preflop: his call means [censored] - a.k.a. any two
Flop: it's time to narrow his range ... strong bet is definitely something ... since he gravitates towards passive side draw is less likely, but remote possibility ... made hand is more likely - what made hands? ... PPs? everything but 33 55 66 crushes you ... 42? ... or [7, something] provided something =/= A, 4, 2 ... and he bet 100 into 40 pot
Turn: now he pots it By now it's pretty clear he's not semi bluffing but betting a made hand and you RAISE !???
River: desperate shove that will get you burned way more often than not.

The only hand you could hope him to have is luckily the one he had. And speaking of luck - in order that to happen both of you had to have for ex. 7 and you to have higher second card (what are the odds on that?) and flop comes 7 high and since both of you have it there are only two remaining that should come on the flop ... In a weird sense you committed your stack on two outer. Very lucky!

As you get more experience (and in case you know but forgot somehow) you'll notice that fishy gamblers chase all the time, but once they hit - they get impatient and try to get paid right away -> fear of their overbets. Folding on this flop and passing marginal 'edge' is not weak; folding on the turn is way better than raising. Sure enough, sometimes they'll donk with their smallish top pair like this one, but once again: what are the odds on that!?

Great (and very useful) analysis Sheetah. Helped open my eyes a bit. My only query is the bit I bolded. With K7, I tend to think theres a very good chance I have the best kicker, which is why I initially felt this hand was good (other than the turn raise). I also see guys get very excited about any pair on a flop like that, so wouldnt have been surprised to see he had middle pair or something.

That said, your reasoning is sound. Hero is dominating, so why risk it on this hand, when villian is showing strength, even if we think theres a chance we're ahead, its probably not worth the risk.