2008-06-06 - MTT

Don't fancy myself as any great player or whatever, but this is an easy push for me. I'm in the BB, so I'm a little invested already. The blinds are soon to devour me. Do I really expect to get a hand better than A-Qo before that happens? And the situation looks fine to me. The big stack - who has just been seated - is probably just trying to bully and establish himself as the table alpha. The button could have any two cards; it's a desperation push. I'm probably in great shape against the button. How could this situation be any better before than blinds eat me alive? The alpha may well go away once he sees TWO all-ins. No point in throwing money away from his point of view. And if he has a big pair, then such is life. Yup, easy push for me.

Originally Posted by Cajmere

Don't fancy myself as any great player or whatever, but this is an easy push for me. I'm in the BB, so I'm a little invested already. The blinds are soon to devour me. Do I really expect to get a hand better than A-Qo before that happens? And the situation looks fine to me. The big stack - who has just been seated - is probably just trying to bully and establish himself as the table alpha. The button could have any two cards; it's a desperation push. I'm probably in great shape against the button. How could this situation be any better before than blinds eat me alive? The alpha may well go away once he sees TWO all-ins. No point in throwing money away from his point of view. And if he has a big pair, then such is life. Yup, easy push for me.

I think it is a tough situation, either play seems fine to me but I have to admit your explanation convince me.

Falling short on your chip stack is always tuff. So pushing a short stack with a set is understandable at times.

Originally Posted by Cajmere

Don't fancy myself as any great player or whatever, but this is an easy push for me. I'm in the BB, so I'm a little invested already. The blinds are soon to devour me. Do I really expect to get a hand better than A-Qo before that happens? And the situation looks fine to me. The big stack - who has just been seated - is probably just trying to bully and establish himself as the table alpha. The button could have any two cards; it's a desperation push. I'm probably in great shape against the button. How could this situation be any better before than blinds eat me alive? The alpha may well go away once he sees TWO all-ins. No point in throwing money away from his point of view. And if he has a big pair, then such is life. Yup, easy push for me.

I see your point of view. But I'm not sure I agree with the button pushing with any two cards. He pushed over the big stack with the rest of his stack, so he has to be expecting a call seeing that big blind will have pretty good odds and close to the 10 to 1 rule that he has to call the button's push. So I do put him on a better range than any two cards.

Again I'm not sure what I do, I picked fold, but that doesn't mean I push in some similar situations. It just really depends on the table, the play, and all of the other things I mentioned before.

You make a good point; after thinking about it, the button may well be looking for a call. I'd probably still push, though. My cards are worth something and we all gotta gamble at some point in the tournament. If I win against two players, I've just beefed my stack nicely. If the big stack folds, my odds have improved plus I can loose and not be at zero (crippled, yeah). Guess I favor aggression whenever it looks 50/50 to me. But again a good point about the button.

Originally Posted by railbird

2008-06-06 - MTT

The correct answer to the question is follow your gut, and don't question the result. I play too much to know.. when your hot your hot.. and when your not.. fold em.

the1steve