Please put me out of my misery.. jus how much more self-flagellation should I submit myself to after 2 days of shame attacks?
Situation is as follows: Super Satellite MTT 1st & 2nd win $8000 package to Singapore.. 3rd downwards get zero..
Blinds 600/1200, Antes 250 (About to go up to next 15 min level of 800/1600 with 300 antes)
X 24,670.50 FOLD
ME 21,512 Pocket Pair 55 ALL-IN!!!???!!!
Y 20,299
SB 21,200
BB 40,318.50
After 7 1/2 hours getting this far (won satellite day before), my mind goes and I become fixated on the fact that according to Dan Harrington, I have an Effective M of only 4.2 and am therefore in the Red Zone (forgetting that so are 3 of my 4 rivals!). Anyhow, I really don't want to make it a comfortable call for the chip leader in BB, so I push all-in, only to be called by the Small Blind who's got pocket queens and I'm out.
Just how diabolically bad was my play exactly or can anybody salvage any semblence of self-respect for me from the wreckage?
And more to the point, how would other people have played the fives? Is the consensus that in these circs they should be binned? I have subsequently calculated I would have had another 20 hands tops to make a move..
Your thoughts would be much appreciated!
ok here's what I would do.
your aim is to get second and you still have enough chips for a while...forget M and all that harrington bollox (no offense harrington readers but M is complete and utter nonsense..it is a fable that is being fed to you by a guy who wants your cash. Sure it might be a good book but M scares more people then it does anyone any good so leave it alone...burn the book...it is over rated...get supersystem!!!). As long as you are comfortable with the amount of chips you have you are fine! (11x 5 handed with these antes is fine by me)
I do one of two things
1; I chuck them..who cares about pocket fives...I would much rather have AK in this situation (just to make me feel more comfortable no other reason then that)
2 (and my preferred play) limp in. I hardly ever raise with small PP's (unless HU) I completely fail to see the point of raising with them. AQ calls you and you get to see a flop with 2 high cards on it and then what do you do.
Small PP's are for limping in with and hoping you hit the flop (or atleast your oppo doesn't)
If you limp in here and miss the flop the opponent doesn't feel he needs to bet the pot because he has nothing invested in it ...he doesn't have to defend any raises he called. That way if he misses it he can check it (especially this close to the prizes) and get out if you bet it. If you raise it you are almost always going to see an overcard on the board and he can bet out (or feels he needs to because he's defending something)
If you do hit the flop all you have to do is hope he has hit it to (unless he has a higher set then you of course) and get paid off. that is what small pp's are for when there's more then 4 players at the table and you're not in chip trouble.
Just my two pence of course.