Preflop - call

two reasons:
1) Even agressive players sometimes get hands
2) The early limpers would be a concern

Post Flop - lead out
....here's why:
By check/raisng you are not asking a question of the limpers until it's too late....you may find yourself over committed  ie You and limpers check, button C-bets, and regardless of whether you raise or call - one of the limpers may re-raise and you have no idea what they are doing it with....it could be a raise to protect A8.

By leading out - you are asking the limpers how much they like their hand - the difference being is that you will have a much better idea of where you are in the hand and will have donated less money to the pot.

Check raising in this spot should only be attempted when you are heads up and if it is 3-way then only when the agressor is the very next person to act after you....thus you get to see the other person's play before it's your turn to act. (preferably not 3-way though)

Of course, if you've got a lock on the hand then it's different.

Mark

So what happened?

Well, having come to the conclusion that my opponent had a King and that he was prone to overvaluing hands - I decided to shove on the turn.

I was quite happy to take the pot there and then but didn't mind too much if he called.  This might seem strange considering I was a big favourite in the hand but of course even big favourites can get overturned.  And as I thought I was one of the better players in the tournament - I didn't think it was wise to get too greedy by enticing a call....having some fold equity....seemed like the right thing plus it was increasing my agressive persona, maybe tilt the player and encourage other players not to mess with me or my blinds.
By the same token, seeing the river knowing my opponents hand would have allowed me to potentially get more value from the hand and play it with total safety.

I still don't think it's totally clear cut but I still think my decision to shove had a slight edge.

[Preflop]

Here's a hand from Equal Chance's Main Event.....I'm still not quite sure If I played it optimally....what do you think?

Background:
Main Event £350 entry 30k in chips
Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
60 players (from 70) remaining
9 handed table


Impressions of my opponent, Steve is a loose player who overvalues hands.
Possible impressions of me, agressive player, playing too many hands and bluffing too often

My Chip stack is approx 45,000
My opponent Steve has about 58,000

5 players in the hand.

1. Me (SB)   
2. BB
3. UTG
6. Steve (cut off -2) (will keep his cards secret for the moment)
9.  Button


Preflop
Seat 3 UTG limps
Seat 6 Steve considers raising but limps
Seat 9 Button limps
Seat 1 Me limps
Seat 2 Checks

Pot is 5,800

Flop        
Seat 1 - Me, I Check
Seat 2 - BB, Checks
Seat 3 - UTG, Checks
Seat 6 - Steve, bets 4000
Seat 9 - Button, Folds
--------------------------------------
Seat 1 - Me, I raise to 14,000
Seat 2 - BB, Folds
Seat 3 - UTG, Folds
Seat 6 - Steve, quickly calls

Turn - 
Now the  is an excellent non-scare card - it makes a potential club flush draw but that's pretty much it.
I'm convinced the way hand has played out that my opponent has a King probably KTs, KJ or KQ

So I have three options:

1. Check the turn which will probably induce a check from my opponent giving him a chance to hit his King, pair the deuce or hit his (unknown) kicker.
Pro's: I know almost exactly where I am in the hand.  If a King or deuce arrive, I give up the hand without losing a penny more.
Con's: If an ace arrives, I probably don't get much from him. His kicker is still unknown to me - so if it comes a high card - I can't safely value bet and end up perhaps paying him off.

2. Bet about 15,000 (a touch less than half)
Pro's: It will be quite hard for him to fold as if he felt he was ahead on the flop, this is a similar size bet and thus he won't be able to resist due to the blank deuce on the turn.  This play may also induce an All-in from him.
Con's: This Leaves me open to getting knocked out of a tourney in which I believe I am one of the better players.

3. Go All-in for about 29,000 (this will leave Steve about 13,000)
Pro's: There a nice pot of about 32,000 with no attached risk (if he folds).  I get all my money in with the best hand (probable 80% advantage)
Con's: I don't give myself a chance to escape, if he calls and a King or Deuce hit the river.

I won't divulge what he had and what I did just yet......but what are your thoughts?

[To Enter!]

OK, let's review the facts Mr. Banin.
Played 1- Won 1.
I make that 100%. Currently the greatest poker tournament career in history.

So....how much are you willing to pay me to stay away from the next Equal Chance main event?
Lol!

Mr Orford you always make me laugh.  If I were gay I would def consider you gay boyfriend potential.

But moving swiftly on.....

Pay you to stay away???.....Well let's see.....

You realise that about 30% of the prize fund goes to first place - this means that about £116 of your £350 entry has a fabulous chance of ending up in my pocket....

I think I will pay you................To Enter!

[FIX]

There's only one thing to say:

FIX

I think Mark Banin lives round my way I believe, have seen him in the tube station a few times... although he was drunk as a newt on one of those occasions. Is there any chance of a close up photo of him?

Ps...I live in Hampstead....and hardly ever use the station...maybe once every six weeks!

I live in Hampstead too, and you were definitely drunk. 

Impossible.....I don't drink!  well hardly anyway...seriously....!!

I was probably just being my usual bubbly self.........who was I with?

Mark

About 3 or 4 friends. They sounded foreign, perhaps East European. I shared a lift with you and your intoxication. 

I was probably being my Jovial self....

Haha...yes I remember that night....I had been to the pub in Covent Garden and had two drinks!!...lol.....I even drove that later night....something I would never ever do If I was drunk....

Really, when I go out two or three is pretty much my limit......and even those are very rare!

Next time say hello!

I think Mark Banin lives round my way I believe, have seen him in the tube station a few times... although he was drunk as a newt on one of those occasions. Is there any chance of a close up photo of him?

Ps...I live in Hampstead....and hardly ever use the station...maybe once every six weeks!

I live in Hampstead too, and you were definitely drunk. 

Impossible.....I don't drink!  well hardly anyway...seriously....!!

I was probably just being my usual bubbly self.........who was I with?

Mark

I think Mark Banin lives round my way I believe, have seen him in the tube station a few times... although he was drunk as a newt on one of those occasions. Is there any chance of a close up photo of him?

Ps...I live in Hampstead....and hardly ever use the station...maybe once every six weeks!

I think Mark Banin lives round my way I believe, have seen him in the tube station a few times... although he was drunk as a newt on one of those occasions. Is there any chance of a close up photo of him?

Definately not me......My drunk as a skunk days have long gone....

Tikay last night bought five hundred and fifty entries to the Open Sunday Showdown. It appears he was playing under three hundred and thirteen different aliases, several of which did not involve the name 'Tikay'.

Haha....brilliant!

Infact all you guys made me laugh...

I have my Sunday Showdown on the 23rd - How bad is that.....that I can only tie with Tikay!!!......

The other day, I did see him closely hugging "Hacking made simple" & "Poker 4 Dummies"....suspicious or what!

Hi Guys

Now that Tikay has won The Open....we know that online poker must be rigged 

What more proof do we need?

It's a fix!!

I would like to play at Dusk til Dawn because:

* This would just be an excellent place to play poker and only poker
* I believe in Free Enterprise
* A poker only venue would supply a service that a casino cannot supply (ie for people who dislike casinos)
* It is likely to become the hub of European Poker where players from across Europe would attend, which would also add to the areas' tourism & prosperity
* It would remove the need for underground poker clubs

Mark Banin
Hampstead, London

Where is The El Blondie himself - Please tell him to play - I need some revenge...

HRH

i feel another poll coming on

and as mark bluffed me off a AK button raise in the vic last summer i fully support any looklike poll that you set up

If I 'bluffed' you off AK - I must've had a hand.....it was a good fold 

HRH

Wow.....what a warm welcome.....fantastic...

Adam: Yes....I do remember.....with inflation that pint is gonna be expensive!

Tight End: re my colleague on Poker Night Live - actually the two I've worked with are really nice girls .....not just pretty faces......shall I try and get you a phone number?

yt: Yes if you draw me I'll let you win - (I'm only saying that in case I lose...lol)

snoopy: who is Bradley? & I've just typed in Google Images "Sayid Lost" and I see what you mean - I have a few more grey hairs though!

HRH