Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster!

I've been in and out of the Poker scene for a number of years, I started in the middle of Uni and at the time that I really started to improve my game, I graduated and became an adult with damned responsibilities. Since then, I've never had much time to invest, crappy excuse I know! At the start of this year, I thought I'd get back into the game and I've started to play 2/3 times a week live, playing small stake MTT's, mainly local casino games mixed with some local pub games.

I'd like to think that my Poker theory is good but I'm struggling to even keep up with the local pub games, which although has some experienced players, most of them don't understand the concept of pot odds and would happily chase a gut-shot to the river; surely this is the kind of game I want, so I'm struggling to understand how I'm not able to capitalise on that.

This particular pub game in question, theres typically 18 runners, I've played 8 times this year and I've only final tabled twice, never cashed.

Here's an example from last night and I'd love to get your thoughts on whether this was a good play or a hand that I could have got away from. 2 hands before this I lost 1/3 my stack when a stack of 7BB shoved KJ into my 99.

----

Hero: AQ (25k)
Villain: 1010 (27k)
Blinds: 1000/2000

Playing 5 handed. MP fold, round to me in CO. I raise 3x blinds to 6k. BTN shoves. Blinds fold round to me. BTN is a respectable player, not overly tight but I'd put his range on anything 99+, AK, AQ and AJ.

At this point I have to call my remaining 19k to win 28k, odds of around 1.5:1, giving me 40% equity.

I figure playing 5 handed and having AQ, himself having AA or QQ would be more unlikely and if he has KK, well then thats just Poker but I honestly don't think he'd shove with KK in this spot in any case, he's someone that likes to trap his big hands.

I figure his most likely holding is a pocket pair, 99+, which as long as he didn't have any overcards, I'd be priced in at around 45%.

I make the call, he turns over 1010.

Rollercoaster flop then ensues, QQ10, followed by two bricks.. flopping my trips and flopping his house, and his hand holds up.

---

I was happy with the way I approached the hand, I put him on a set range based on his past behaviour and tendencies and was there or thereabouts.

Is there any spot that I could have/should have played this better, or was this just a spot to get it in for the right price and hope for the best?

The only other decision I really had was to jam pre but as I typically represent a relatively loose table image, I believe he would have undoubtedly snap called.

First post on the forum, looking to get more actively involved and I appreciate any discussion or constructive criticism on the back of this.

Cheers,

this is standard.

You played it fine and it would be a rly bad fold to make, esp on the range you've put (I would add extra combos)

Just unfortunate that you lost the flip.

Thanks mate, glad to see I didn't do anything terrible. I'm confident in my mathematical approach, I just always seem to land myself in agonising spots where I'm being priced in, but I'm not a favourite to win the hand.

If this were cash, I wouldn't have that much of an issue as variance will have its way and as long as I'm always making +EV decisions, I have to trust that it will always catch up. Guess thats the joys of MTTs!

Focus on figuring out how to take full advantage of their flaws. If these guys don't understand pot odds and love to chase, look for spots to value bet them to death. Pound away with full pot bets and multiple barrels.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

For 12.5 BBs you should be ripping this in to begin with rather than raising.

Definitely the best strategy, just gonna keep plugging away!




This was the other option and if I'd have portrayed my image at the table to be a bit tighter than I had been, I would have elected for this move and see if the similar sized stack wanted to risk it with his 10s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Friendly piece of advice, my friend.

Don't post the results when you post a hand in question. Sometimes it affects the way some people approach the hand. I'd like to think that most people won't, but it's hard to control our unconscious thoughts.

As far as the hand itself, it's just an unlucky spot. Both players are correct with their actions, but one of them has to lose. Yay for tournament variance.

Very good point, I'll bare that in mind in my future hand breakdowns!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk