In a 2nd place rut

[Projectp]

Maybe i should have posted this in HU, both most topics in there are 1 hand. Ive been getting 2nd place a lot lately, which is ok, but im usually double the opponent going in and still lose. I feel like im getting sucked out a lot, what do you guys think of this play?

The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

---Tournament Summary---
$3.30 SNG: Finished 2/9 for $9
Data for 94 hands.
You played 43 hands (45.74%)
You raised 16 times preflop (17.02%)



-----Hand 30-----
Hero's M = 36.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007573759: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:25:16 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (8,780)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (4,720)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 5 Q
LetsGoBruins raises to 320

FrankCastle0 calls 160
Flop: 2 J Q
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins bets 8,460, and is all in

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 8,460 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (640)


2 7 BB (Folded to LetsGoBruins.)

-----Hand 31-----
Hero's M = 38.25
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007578110: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:25:41 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (9,180)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (4,320)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt T J
LetsGoBruins raises to 320

FrankCastle0 raises to 4,320, and is all in

LetsGoBruins folds
Uncalled bet of 4,000 returned to FrankCastle0
FrankCastle0 mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (640)



-----Hand 32-----
Hero's M = 36.92
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007581207: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:26:00 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (8,860)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (4,640)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt A Q
FrankCastle0 raises to 480

LetsGoBruins raises to 8,860, and is all in

FrankCastle0 calls 4,160, and is all in
LetsGoBruins shows A Q
FrankCastle0 shows A 5
Uncalled bet of 4,220 returned to LetsGoBruins
Flop: 5 4 2
Turn: J
River: 8
LetsGoBruins shows Ace Queen high
FrankCastle0 shows a pair of Fives
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (9,280) with a pair of Fives



-----Hand 33-----
Hero's M = 17.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007585984: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:26:28 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (4,220)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,280)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt T Q
LetsGoBruins calls 80
FrankCastle0 checks
Flop: A 4 J
FrankCastle0 bets 320

LetsGoBruins calls 320
Turn: 3
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins checks
River: 7
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins checks
Showdown:
FrankCastle0 shows 4 6 a pair of Fours
LetsGoBruins mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (960) with a pair of Fours


9 8 BB (M = 15.58; r+F)

-----Hand 34-----
Hero's M = 14.92
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007593719: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:27:14 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,580)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,920)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt A 5
LetsGoBruins raises to 3,580, and is all in

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 3,420 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (320)



-----Hand 35-----
Hero's M = 15.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007595788: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:27:27 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,740)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,760)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 8 3
FrankCastle0 calls 80
LetsGoBruins checks
Flop: J 3 K
LetsGoBruins bets 160

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 160 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (320)



-----Hand 36-----
Hero's M = 16.25
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007598626: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:27:43 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,900)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,600)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt T J
LetsGoBruins calls 80
FrankCastle0 raises to 9,600, and is all in

LetsGoBruins folds
Uncalled bet of 9,440 returned to FrankCastle0
FrankCastle0 mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (320)


4 J BB (Folded to LetsGoBruins.)
J 3 SB (M = 15.92; F)

-----Hand 37-----
Hero's M = 15.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007605306: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:28:23 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,740)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,760)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt K 6
FrankCastle0 calls 80
LetsGoBruins checks
Flop: K T 2
LetsGoBruins bets 480

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 480 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (320)


8 T SB (M = 16.25; F)
7 T BB (M = 15.92; r+F)
8 6 SB (M = 15.25; F)
4 8 BB (Folded to LetsGoBruins.)

-----Hand 38-----
Hero's M = 15.25
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007613257: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:29:11 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,660)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (9,840)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 5 7
LetsGoBruins calls 80
FrankCastle0 checks
Flop: J Q 3
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins checks
Turn: 6
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins checks
River: Q
FrankCastle0 checks
LetsGoBruins checks
Showdown:
FrankCastle0 shows 4 8 a pair of Queens
LetsGoBruins mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (320) with a pair of Queens



-----Hand 39-----
Hero's M = 14.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007620193: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:29:53 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,500)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (10,000)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 7 K
FrankCastle0 calls 80
LetsGoBruins checks
Flop: 4 A 7
LetsGoBruins bets 320

FrankCastle0 calls 320
Turn: 5
LetsGoBruins checks
FrankCastle0 bets 9,520, and is all in

LetsGoBruins folds
Uncalled bet of 9,520 returned to FrankCastle0
FrankCastle0 mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (960)


8 9 SB (M = 12.58; F)

-----Hand 40-----
Hero's M = 12.25
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007626143: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:30:30 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (2,940)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (10,560)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 9 J
FrankCastle0 calls 80
LetsGoBruins raises to 2,940, and is all in

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 2,780 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (320)



-----Hand 41-----
Hero's M = 12.92
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007628447: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:30:43 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,100)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (10,400)
LetsGoBruins posts the small blind of 80
FrankCastle0 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #1
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt Q K
LetsGoBruins raises to 3,100, and is all in

FrankCastle0 folds
Uncalled bet of 2,940 returned to LetsGoBruins
LetsGoBruins mucks
LetsGoBruins wins the pot (320)



-----Hand 42-----
Hero's M = 13.58
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007629973: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:30:53 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (3,260)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (10,240)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 80
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt T 7
FrankCastle0 calls 80
LetsGoBruins checks
Flop: 2 2 Q
LetsGoBruins checks
FrankCastle0 checks
Turn: 8
LetsGoBruins bets 160

FrankCastle0 calls 160
River: J
LetsGoBruins checks
FrankCastle0 bets 160

LetsGoBruins calls 160
Showdown:
FrankCastle0 shows 2 Q a full house, Twos full of Queens
LetsGoBruins mucks
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (960) with a full house, Twos full of Queens


9 7 SB (M = 9.27; F)

-----Hand 43-----
Hero's M = 8.93
Full Tilt Poker Game #11007636760: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (82831080), Table 1 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:31:35 ET - 2009/03/07
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Seat 1: LetsGoBruins (2,680)
Seat 2: FrankCastle0 (10,820)
FrankCastle0 posts the small blind of 100
LetsGoBruins posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #2
Preflop: LetsGoBruins dealt 7 A
FrankCastle0 raises to 400

LetsGoBruins raises to 2,680, and is all in

FrankCastle0 calls 2,280
LetsGoBruins shows 7 A
FrankCastle0 shows 9 A
Flop: 9 5 8
Turn: 9
River: 3
LetsGoBruins shows a pair of Nines
FrankCastle0 shows three of a kind, Nines
FrankCastle0 wins the pot (5,360) with three of a kind, Nines
LetsGoBruins stands up
FrankCastle0 stands up



The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

[kstarm]

A few general things: Being aggressive is good heads up which I see you doing. I would be cautious about pushing so many of your hands with 20+ BB. It seems you guys got to HU early given you a chance to play a bit more post flop. You have the potential to see a lot of hands here, and the ability to make moves post-flop. Also your opponent is very straight forward...i.e. when he checks he very likely doesn't have anything, and when he bets he does. You should look to exploiting this at the lower level buy-ins.

30: You have the big stack, unless you think he is very tight and would for some reason fold to a min-raise, you should be looking at your standard opening of 2.5-4 X the BB. The flop does offer draws, but TP is great heads-up. It is hard to think he is going to call you with anything you are beating. I would lead out for ~280

31: again don't min-raise. You are looking to apply pressure to your opponent, not price him in. As played fold.

32: Tough beat: Don't think I just lost my stack....think with these blinds I can still be selective about my hands and pick a good spot to double-up.

33: If you are going to float the flop you need to take a stab at the pot on either the turn or the river. Checking the turn is fine, but when your opponent checks the river you should be thinking he has a marginal holding. I would fire out a 60-70% river bet.

34: Here is a good example: you have over 20 BBs no need to push here. You should accomplich just as much with a standard raise

I had something come up, I will finish analyses later, or hopefully you can get some more perspectives.

[kstarm]

Hand 37: You flop top pair on a fairly uncoordinated board. You are likely way ahead here. There is no need to overbet the pot like this. Something in the 220-280 range would be fine if you want to lead out. I would consider checking and setting up bets for later streets here. When he hits his J or Q you are going to get a lot of value.

Hand 38: I would probably fold this as it will give your raises more respect if you aren't playing every hand. As played you should take a stab at this pot. He hasn't shown anything to suggest he has a hand yet, and we know he bets when he has something, and checks when he doesn't. Getting to showdown with 7 high is not going to be +EV

Hand 39: I would play this similar.

Hand 40: Again you do not need to push yet. We have seen him call with A5 before, I think you are asking to go busto here.

Hand 41: again standard raise

Hand 42: lucky that 3rd heart didn't fall I would probably fold the river uness I wanted info. T-high isn't much here, it is possible he was on a worse FD.

Hand 43: This fine

Some thoughts: I think in you need to work on your betting in relationship to the pot, blinds, and hand strength. Position is also a huge advantage HU especially at lower stakes. If you want some more practice play some low stakes HU matches. These can be really helpful for improving your post-flop comfortability/play. Obviously SnG are mostly a push/fold kind of game...but being better post-flop won't hurt anyone either

[fulksy]

agree with kstarm you need to get some value out of your hands, blinds are low compared to stacks so you have room to play post flops and get value on multiple streets. also he's over betting his mediocre hands so with the low blinds you can see some cheap flops and bust him when you hit a decent hand over his one pair etc. theirs no need to open shove big hands at these levels.

[lockpull]

One thing that I got yelled at me over and over by Taipan in one of my histories was DDMR. (Don't Donk Min Raise)
Looking through my tourn histories I found I had a huge problem doing this. It gives you almost no extra value and has very little fold potential. At these stakes (which I play almost primarily in) players are likely to call your min raises with anything and if they call and you hit air..... what happens then?

[Projectp]

Thanks guys, after reading this i can see i shoved too many hands. I play mostly shove/fold heads up. I can see the value im losing without seeing flops.

[OneEyeLefty]

I like to open way up when heads up with a big chip lead. Play aggressive and when you hit make it hurt your opponent. No reason you should lose when getting heads up with 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 chips leads.

Lefty

[gobirds54]

i think overall you played well. sometimes i think you over bet and your opponett folded and you missed out on some potential big pots.

[Projectp]

No reason you should lose when getting heads up with 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 chips leads.

Lefty

Exactly my thoughts, thats why i posted this up. I lost 2 in a row like this with big leads. That beat on the AQ on hand 32 crushed me.