Quote:
Originally Posted by mxp2004
The other night, I was playing in a MTT at the Borgata. It's getting near the bubble, and some guy is UTG, shortstacked, and about to go through the blinds that will wipe out a good portion of his remaining stack. Nevertheless, he still decides to open-limp, despite his obvious all-in or fold circumstances.
After a few players fold, another player raises UTG, putting him all-in. UTG calls, of course, showing 44. He winds up getting stacked by A9 who spikes a 9.
After the hand, a strategy discussion breaks out, some wondering why A9 pushed, others confused by the limp-call line taken by the shortstacked UTG. This prompted the player to my left to get all agitated.
"How can you question what UTG did," the guy wanted to know? "It would be suicide to open-shove from UTG with 44."
"Then why not fold?"
"Fold? Are you crazy? He had a pocket pair!"
"But if it is suicide to open-shove with 44, then why should you call an all-in with it?"
"Implied odds."
Epic.
I've heard to always play your tens and fives since you're more likely to get a straight, never fold your pocket pairs since you might hit a set, play any suited since you could flop a a flush, but I expect those are all pretty common.
My personal favorite though is when someone says (and lives by) never raising before the river, because you never know if something will come out to beat you. Extra bonus points for one losing reg I know who believes this but also raises before the river, as long as he's on a total bluff, but never any other time.