On the Bubble --- Position Problems

Hey all,

I found myself in the situation the other night.
$20.00 sng PS.
4 left
Me... $3,100.00
1 seat to my right $900.00
2 seats to my right $1000.00
On my left $ 8,500.00

Blinds were at end of $150/$75 soon to be $200/$100

The Problem. Big stack was very aggresive beating up the shorties including me. Eveytime I tried to steal he shut me out.
Only steal I had was taking he SB when I was BB and Big stack folded.

I basicly had to wait and watch my stack dwindle until one of the shorties busted. It was frustrating though. I was going to make a move if I got decent holdings but it never happened. I did try to resteal but he came over the top ALL IN and had to fold.

I did end up taking 2nd but by the time the two shorties busted I was way outchipped and had to push/fold till I busted.

Any comments?

how big were your raises when you tried to steal? Were the hands good enough to open push with?

Although most maniacs will push over a standard raise they will sometimes resist calling a push because you are representing a stronger hand.

sounds like big stack played well. Remember how he played cos this sounds like optimal strategy for big stack. If you were getting some SB steals then thats good. Main thing is getting ICM in this situation, then gogogo.

If he is pushing over your raises you'll have to tighten. Simple. wait for shorties to bust and looking at stacks you should take 2nd. 2nd is is good here. Plus HU 1 or two hands and you're back in it.

Don't be tempted into making -$EV calls because you rightly think he is shoving ATC.

Cool, I guess I did OK then,

and ....No my hands weren't good enough to open push with plus really didn't want to go BUSTO in front of the 2 shorites on a coin flip. That was the dilema and thats where the frustration was.

In my view I deserved at least 2nd and didn't want to risk no payday unless I got like AA,KK.

Originally Posted by Monty9

Cool, I guess I did OK then,

and ....No my hands weren't good enough to open push with plus really didn't want to go BUSTO in front of the 2 shorites on a coin flip. That was the dilema and thats where the frustration was.

In my view I deserved at least 2nd and didn't want to risk no payday unless I got like AA,KK.

You played it well then. Not much you can do if the big stack is (correctly) playing very aggressively. It sucks that the big stack is to your left so you can't pound on the shorties. If the big stack ever folds when he's UTG you should be very aggressive with the shorties - eg. if it's folded to you and one just completes the SB when you're in the BB then shove back.