The guy fucking insta-calls me too.



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t800 (9 handed)

MP1 (t18210)
MP2 (t13275)
MP3 (t21940)
CO (t19444)
Hero (t8600)
SB (t31313)
BB (t35404)
UTG (t15895)
UTG+1 (t16530)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
6 folds, Hero raises to t8550, 1 fold, BB calls t7750.

Flop: (t16700) , , (2 players)

Turn: (t16700) (2 players)

River: (t16700) (2 players)

Final Pot: t16700

Results in white below:
BB has 2d Ad (flush, ace high).
Hero has Ah 5c (straight, queen high).
Outcome: BB wins t16700.

big stacks are definately a lot looser, plus a push from the botton with the blinds were they are is suspicious,,, guess he thought his A was good. Shitty for sure.

I gotta tell you McJ, I hate this play. I understand it looks like a very solid spot for a push with only the blinds left but you picked a horrible hand for a push.

He donkey called with A2s, but in most spots, what's calling you, is a bigger A.

Not too mention, you're pushing into BOTH big stacks at the table. If anyone is going to be laying down to a push-steal right here, it's not them.

You have 8 hands until the blinds come back around and hit you and I'm 100% sure you can find a better spot with better cards.

I'm not really looking for a "better spot with better cards" to get all my chips in the middle. I'm looking to steal the blinds and antes.

I understand that, and still, I think this is a very bad spot. You're picking on the big stack's blinds. If anyone's going to gamble with you, it's going to be the big stacks.

gotta agree with Seany... you have bad table position for blind stealing... unfortunate for you, but them the facts.

So what's my alternative then? As far as I know, blind stealing is crucial for MTT success. Do I just pray that I hit some cards and wait until the blinds eat me up?

edit: that sounded harsher/more sarcastic than I intended it to. It's a legitimate question. What would you do in this situation where the cards aren't coming and you're not in a position to steal?

I don't think the play was that bad. I think it depends on table reads though.

How long were you at that table for? I would make a play like this but only if I had seen the big stack lay down to a button raise previously.

With an M of about 7 you aren't too desperate just yet and as Seany says you have plenty of hands until the blinds come back around. Anyone who calls is taking a big dent to their stack so they aren't calling with trash, imo you are in big trouble vs most calls here (obv apart from the odd donkey ).

I dunno, maybe a raise to 2k or so would be ok here. I reckon, at that point in the tourney, there's just as much fold equity to that as there is to a push.

meh, risking 8500 to win 1650. I might push here to add 20% of my stack. The problem with opening to 2k is that if the sb or bb are any kind of aggresive player they will put you all in with junk, I know I would especially if this is around the bubble.

Originally Posted by WeakTight

The problem with opening to 2k is that if the sb or bb are any kind of aggresive player they will put you all in with junk, I know I would especially if this is around the bubble.

That's part of the reason I would do this with A5 in this situation. Pushing straight off risks only being called by better hands. Against fairly tight players, I see them folding just as often with a small raise. IF it is an aggressive player and they repop you, their range is much bigger and a call can be profitable imo.