Originally Posted by JokersWild

When I don't have the nut flush, even if I have a K high flush, I consider the possibility of the A being out.

In your case, I would not have been as aggressive with the betting rather just calling down. If he put all in on the river that would have been a tough call.

Personally, I push the king high flush as though it were the A high flush. Think how many times some joker has 56s and keeps firing away because he's made his flush. There you are with the K-high flush.

I'd start slowing down with the queen high flush (raise/call), because now there are 2 cards out that could beat us. But I'd still put a bet in at the river. Jack high or worse I'd still value bet, but probably not raise a bet.

In this particular situation, I'm going broke with any flush. I mean, how often in SB vs BB will both of us make the flush? Not enough times to run scared. The guy could just as easily have 89 or 92, or even J9, Q9, etc.

Sometimes, it's just our turn to go broke.

Yeah i when i think about it there were only like 7 pocket holdings that would have me beat.

Originally Posted by Jason75

Personally, I push the king high flush as though it were the A high flush.

I agree with you here for the most part. However, sometimes I personally do not feel it is necessary to risk my tournament life if I don't have to. I am satisfied winning a good pot rather than risk being booted. I know the odds are small that the K high flush will be beat but it does happen and the way the betting went at the turn is a good indicater that trouble is around the corner. This is where it helps to know if your opponent is a fish or is a decent player.

I am perhaps a bit conservative in tournaments when things are going as planned. Things would be different in a cash game.

shouldnt you being more conservative in cash game than you would be in a tourny? in a cash game you have infinite chances to make money but in tournament your only going to get a few really good chances? atleast this is what i seemed to gather from Harrington

Originally Posted by JokersWild

I agree with you here for the most part. However, sometimes I personally do not feel it is necessary to risk my tournament life if I don't have to. I am satisfied winning a good pot rather than risk being booted. I know the odds are small that the K high flush will be beat but it does happen and the way the betting went at the turn is a good indicater that trouble is around the corner. This is where it helps to know if your opponent is a fish or is a decent player.

I am perhaps a bit conservative in tournaments when things are going as planned. Things would be different in a cash game.

IMO (I could be wrong), one of the differences between good tournament play and great tournament play is knowing when and how to push hands for full value. It can be the difference between taking down a nice sized pot and doubling your chipstack. This is one of those situations. The SB could easily be pushing 2 pair and discounting the flush (as I would in the SB) or even have made a worse flush (there's only 1 better).

Even though we end up near broke on this play, I feel pretty strongly it's the play to make. We just got incredibly unlucky. But that's poker.