Monday, April 07, 2008

Not aggro enough

The head of my poker satellite club shook his head at me when I turned in my registration for the 6max NLHE event in June. "You're not aggressive enough for that game".

My response was related to avoiding a donkey push field in NLHE while getting in more post-flop play. That and you have to play much more patient in a 3 table MTT, when you are rewarded for every single elimination before you...

But he does have a point. I am not big on re-stealing out of position and practically never re-re-steal. Will I get eaten alive?!

As for my most interesting hand on Saturday, look at this...

3 table MTT, about 14 left.
Blinds are a whopping 800/1600 and I have about 20k. I am 4th in chips at the table (I think). The utg+1, who raises with every decent hand he gets and is known as one of the most aggro players in the group, make yet another raise, but this time makes it 8k (not 6k). Interesting. (He has me covered)

Now, there have been two hands of note at this table. TT and AQ. TT has lost everytime and many jokes made about it. I put him on the following range based on the over range, TT-KK, AK, AQ.

I have AK on the button... You can NOT call here. You can not get a THIRD of your chips in to see just 3 cards as he will shove on almost any flop (certainly one without and Ace).

Shove or Fold?!

7 comments:

KenP said...

I'd be happy to make the case in either direction. The question really is do you want to play big pot poker here? The bigger than normal bet might indicate he'd rather not get called on this one but Fuel55 is one that overbets big hands for just that reason.

Unknown said...

You already answered the question. He's really aggro, he raises with every decent hand, and the blinds are pretty high. I shove. You're almost surely not dominated here. In fact, with his higher raise, I read him for a mid pocket pair, like 9s or 10s or even Js. I don't think he'd discourage action with K-K or A-A, and those are the only two hands that hurt you.
Shove!

carbide said...

Ray, I agree with Scott's comment. You are not aggressive enough for a 6 max game out there. I think you would be better suited at a full table. That being said I think you are going to have a hard time out there in either style. You are going to have to make some changes to your game to do well. Your comment about push fold/donkey style in full table is kinda interesting. To my knowledge you have never played at a WSOP event. I'm just curious where you got that idea from. It is far from that. Sure it happens but that is not the norm from my experience. As for you hand in the league, ship it everyday against a player like that. Good luck in Vegas.

ScottBroker said...

To add to my comments on Saturday,
6 handed is VEREY aggressive Pre nad Post flop. As I do have an 'equity' stake in you, I want you to succeed at the WSOP. I have not played with you online, maybe you have an alter ego. I can only speak to your live play, and in my experience, unless you have accumulated a lot of chips, you are going to be eaten alive 6 handed. All the pros play that event....

JMHO

bayne_s said...

MiamiDon has often told me I am better wired for limit games.

Maybe you are as well.

I think during implied odds portion of tournament solid reads and post flop play allow you to progress but once you get close to bubble resteals and flips are required to get deep.

RaisingCayne said...

I shove. Known aggressive player, apparently not wanting action given the large raise. Appears you can likely eliminate KK (and AA) from his range; and include 77-99. I jam here and expect to either see villain fold, or see a call and a coin flip for monster pot versus 77-QQ... (or possibly even see villain's AQ.)

Jon Schwartz said...

shove.

i wish i had a more detailed explanation, but it's hard for nits like me to get away from AK in this spot.

-A Nit and a Chair