blonde poker forum

Good Afternoon All,

I must say again how much I have enjoyed the posts on hand analysis, it is a shame that one or two of the topics have become 'arguments' rather than expressions of opinion. 

When playing at the Notts Gala last week I made what I perceive to be a mistake but then again maybe it was not, I need help to clear this up. I generally don't raise with AJ, so I hope none of you start taking the mickey  :D 

Blinds were 600-1200 three way pot no raise (3600)- my stack 8'000 . other two 15'000 and 6000 respectively.

Hole cards  Aspades Jd

Flop -    5h Ahrt 9h

Myself and the 6000 stack both check so the larger stack bets out 3000, I am worried about lasting the five cards with no heart.  As the tournement wore on it became clear he liked to have a bluff at a pot but at the time it was too early to know that.

The guy with 6000 passess and it is over to me, I am thinking re-raise or pass - any pointers? I will reveal his hand to a reply.

Regards

DTM

Are you in the BB?

What was the preflop action? matey boy calls, SB calls, you check?

What position is matey boy in?

I know you boys like all the facts but the blinds are not something I recollect fully -one thing for certain there was no raise; as for the pattern action post flop I was first to speak and the short stack was second to speak - thus leaving the door open for the bet I guess.

With an unraised pot here, I'm raising with AJ *PREFLOP* in middle or late position. Where where you? Are you above average chips? Depending on the blinds and table image, if I'm short stacked you'll find me all in preflop with this hand. You've got less than 8 big blinds, I don't think you have the option to limp. Fold or raise.

The flop is a scary one, and with no action preflop you do not know where you are. This guy routinely bets at unopened pots. This is why you should have raised preflop (or folded). I put him on having one heart. You could convince yourself that you can find a better position to stick in your chips and fold, as I would probably do. But you don't want to become an also ran.

I would have pass this hand, he was likely to have quite a few differnt hands, 1. he could be holding ace rag with a small heart card, 2. he could have a small flush all ready( not wanting another heart to come out and beat his flush), both of you checked leaving him to pick up the pot with a pot size bet, give you only 2-1 pot odds, you have to show him respect for that move. If you was just to call this bet and the jack of hearts fulls, it would be harder to get away from. But you cannot just call its re raise or fold.

As my profile states I am a newbie in my 3rd live tournement - this was the third time I had held AJ in the game and with the previous two I had colected nice pots - once calling a short stack all in and the second hitting two pair and trapping an A3 all in.

At the time of this hand I had no idea of the oppenents style of play - he had not been with us long enough for me to see any patterns.

As a newbie you will learn from these situtions, all the more reson to have folded as you didnt know his style of play, For me it took me a long time to suss out peoples style of play, as most good players mix up there game to hide there style, hope this has helped you alittle, and goodluck for your future live comps.

I'd pass, because if you're not already behind, then you're vulnerable to an outdraw.

In fact, because the ace is out, I'd say that there is good chance that he has a set or the  Kh. Perhaps  Kh Jc or something.

At the Gala, I prefer to look for better opportunities to double through.

His position at the table would tell us a lot.


With blinds at 600 and 1200, and with only 8k in front of you, I'd be tempted to move all-in preflop.

When I said I would raise with AJ with this stack and blinds, it would ahve been preflop. I editted to make that clear.

After the flop you dont know where you are, with a scare board like that too.

I'd have been all in preflop but having failed to do that I would probably have chucked them all in on the flop, in your situation i think you really have to chuck them in.

You have < 7 BBs and need to start picking up chips.

I have racked my memory to remember the position without success - knowing I was first to act after the flop and being shown  6c  6d after I folded; made me steam.  However given I am new to the game I suppose it is no suprise that I am not fully 'aware' or 'appreciate' the importance of position.  

I try to mix my game as best possible - not raising with AJ for this one hand may have taken the pot away from me before the flop had even arrived but it is the analysis after the flop that interested me more.

I said at the time to him after the show "had that been on the net I would have re-raised in an instant" but given I play 5$ STT and MTT it is very easy to go ahead and do it without the pressures forty quid and live cards bring.

Thanks for the replies - enjoyed reading all of them

DTM

You steamed when he showed you a set? :dontask:

Good pass surely?

 :blonde: miss typed the first post - as I am sure you would have gussed, or maybe as a newbie you think I dont know the ranking of hands? lol

I think the problem with this hand is, because of the was you played it up to his bet on the flop, you left yourself in a position where you were forced to take a wild guess at his hand.

Guess that's one of the reasons why B&M is so much better.

My reasons for the cautious approach in this hand were down to my desire to survive rather than win! negative I know but I did not walk in to the casino to win the tournement, I came in to learn and play well, I feel I did both given I won the majority of hands I played.

When playing a 5$ tournement on the Internet I am playing to win first and learn second.

B & M? I don't know that I am afraid lol

Thanks

DTM

No set

B & M = Bricks and Mortar, ie. live games

Thank you Robert - Mickey there was no set just a cock up on my first post

Yeah I know there was no set, the other guy thought there was. It was a 5 an 9 on flop, no 6.