Hole cards

[thetank]

We all like to look down and see aces. Most of us like to look down and see two cards we can play. AK,AQ, 88 that sort of thing. After waiting a few rounds, maybe an hour or so for a playable hand they're a sight for sore eyes.

For me, however, there comes a pont in a tournament that when I look down, I stop rooting to see something nice and pray for muck like J2o instead so I can make an easy fold and stay out of trouble. This point is obviously near the bubble.

My question is this, does everyone experience this? and for those that do, does it stop for you once the bubble has burst?

I try not to play scared, I do play the hands if I'm dealt them. This is about the whole not wanting to be dealt them in the first place.

[yt]

I've felt that as well but then I (finally) realised that I shouldn't be playing 88/AJ out of position near the bubble and that it was not a dangerous hand just a mediocre hand that needed folding with no regrets.
It's easier folding 92 than AJ but really it shouldn't be.
Next time in the same situation just look and if it's not a top 5 hand, fold it and forget it.

[dan]

i know excatly what you are saying tank about the bubble but i have tried to make it in to a positive. when approaching the bubble say 3 or 4 away most people tighten up. i think this is the best time to be really aggresive. other players,unless they are not worried about the bubble, will not call your raises unless they have a monster. i find you can build a really nice stack at this point to go on and win the tournament.

[Newmanseye]

when I am in the bubble I like to loosen up a bit especially if I have a stack, It always appears to me that there is dead money on the table when the bubble arrives, I tend to get involved more often and play a loose aggressive game then once the bubble has burst I tighten up again back to the grind, I find I manage to add another 20 - 30 % to my stack in the bubble, the way I find works is to put someone to the test for their money.

Just how I play, and I always pray for AA in the hole,  bubble or not, I can only be outdrawn and again i use this to punish my oponents even more.

[thetank]

The only reason I ask is that, while I believe a little bit of this is natural. I have found myself thinking like this on final tables and perhaps this a symptom that I may need a break.

[jezza777]

I know exactly what you mean . I went through a stage of dreading being dealt KK after a bad run with that particular hand . At Rob' s home game I went out on the bubble. After a min raise and a reraise I look down praying for junk and see AKD I came close to folding but couldnt do it and walked bang into Womble' KK . I think there a re hands you have to play as you are working on limited information and without great knowledge of the other players sometimes the chips are destined to go into the pot. I do like to become aggressive when I approach the bubble but my hole cards become secondary considerations to my position and the stack i am going to atack.

[ifm]

just don't look

[vampitup]

For me, however, there comes a pont in a tournament that when I look down, I stop rooting to see something nice and pray for muck like J2o instead so I can make an easy fold and stay out of trouble. This point is obviously near the bubble.

I know exactly what you mean - it's almost like you don't want to get dealt hands like AT or 88 as you think you have to do something with them, despite the fact they are so troublesome to play.

This leads me onto another question - would you rather have a hand like Q8 in the cutoff/on the button when it's folded round to you, or AJ or 88 in early position.  I think I would rather have the hand with the better position.

[thetank]

I'd rather have AJ or 88 in early position than Q8 from the cut off or button in no limit holdem.
After sticking in a raise from early position, most players respect that and if you get played back at or flat called you know where you are as they'd need a strong holding.
In the button with muck, you get played back at with muck, it's much harder to know if you're beat or not.

[vampitup]

After sticking in a raise from early position, most players respect that and if you get played back at or flat called you know where you are as they'd need a strong holding.

In the theory that's definitely true - but in local rebuy comps I don't really see that a lot.  In the bigger comps its different.  Maybe my judgement is tainted by the fact I always lose with AJ - I absolutely hate the hand.