whats up everybody,

I have recently started playing some DON's and I'd like some feedback.
I will paste quite a few hands, and if possible - just skim through and evaluate if my play in general is OK or not.( or even maybe outline a few of my more frequent mistakes)

P.S. I will write any comments above the hand if had an impact on my decision

Thanks a lot.




HAND 1: SB steals 55% (600h)



HAND 2,3: no stack to wait for better hand, or is it ?





HAND 4: Another resteal attempt. OP 4/11 steals from SB.




HAND 5: regs battle on the bubble: Almost every hand is shoving on the blinds so I expect very wide ranges. However, given stacks, I am 75% to win and I am not getting such ev ever. Villain shoves here like 50-60% and I feel this is my best chance than get blinded out waiting for better hand/spot. ( 1 orbit will cost me half of my stack)



HAND 6: with 3.5bb stack I feel I am less likely to survive than flipping now for solid 11.5bb


HAND 7: BTN is aggro donk pushing every second hand. Folding leaves me 3.5bb and I am most likely getting shoved on next hand too.







Summary: After a hh review I feel like a good chunk of games where I lose is in BvB collision. I do 80% of the time get it in being ahead either by restealing or calling super wide ranges. ICM would probably force me to fold, but ending with 3-4bb shortstack will leave me no fold equity while regs will cooperate-call down just to bust the bubble.

The variance has been absolutely disgusting. And its not only losing 5 tourneys in a row being 70% favorite in every hand, its also a 0.5bb short stacks doubling up 4 hands in a row sucking out every time. I am bleeding money and don't know if its my mistakes or just the variance since DON tournaments are so much different from everything and I don't see the late game edge because everyone is pushing on blinds very wide ranges and at the end it all comes down to someone waking up with more premium hand to call a shove.

Please share your opinions on this

I loosen up calling ranges a little when shortstacked for the very reason you mentioned. The other players are certainly going to collude and try to play defensively rather offensively. They might play more defensively than HRC suggestions might suggest.

Basically you don't want to end up as the short stack at the table in the first place if at all possible since all the player's attention will be focused on either busting you out or playing conservatively to come in the money without having to play a hand.

I'd just plug these in to HRC or perhaps a program that uses FGS and perhaps adjust slightly based on what you are seeing at the table. I don't know off the top of my head what the best play is in all these situations.

And yeah, it usually does come down to somebody waking up with a good hand. That's double ups for you.

thanks for your feedback, juggle.