Posted by Padilla 4:40 PM
When playing in this weekends tourney, remember this………….

One of my worst leaks in NL tourneys is over-raising pre-flop in early or mid position.

When I’m dealt K-Q suited, middle pairs, or similar teasers, I’d like to win with them, but I don’t need much of a pot to keep me happy. I also don’t want much resistance, as I know these hands are junk when there are multiple players yet to act, and my subsequent poor position post-flop.

Though I recognize the danger, I can’t bring myself to fold these hands in most spots. The reward is too high when they hit, if played correctly, to continually let these hands go every time. (maximizing profits is another topic)

When you play vulnerable hands from middle or early position you’re usually the first in the pot, so you raise. (don’t we always open raise in NL??) The size of the raise is what’s getting me in trouble. A minimum raise invites others into the pot that may sense a multi-way pot growing. When my K-Q sees a K-7-8 flop with 2 to a suit, I know I’m not very strong against 4 other players. Raising the standard 3 or 3.5 times would be sufficient, but could appear to be a steal since I’m the first one in. So I over-raise. This induces a bluffer in better position to come at me with an all-in, wasting unnecessary chips. Obviously, limping might induce a bluff-for-information from a late position player.

Notice that you can always find fault with your hand, but deciphering between bad hands and bad position/bad play is what’s important here. Let’s look at the positives now.

Your middle set will be well disguised. Barring straight or flush DRAWS, you wouldn’t mind seeing 2 overcards accompanying your bottom set. You’ll probably get your money all-in post-flop against 2-pair, or even better, top-pair Ace kicker. Likewise, you’ll recognize the same play when you hit 2-pair. You might be able to check the flop through if you miss or flop a strong draw, as the pre-flop raise may plant the idea that you just hit a monster and are planning a check-raise. Getting all the way through is unlikely, but you shouldn’t bluff a multi-way field, so you may be done with the hand.

Personal Solution: Stick to a standard raise, let your opponents figure out when you’re stretching and when you’ve got the goods, and learn to fold attractive hands. Also, note your opponent’s tendencies to allow or disallow you to sneak into pots without pounding you back. Getting re-raised over and over in poor position will drastically cut down on your tournament lifespan.

Note: Folding is not a bad option here if the re-raise to you is too high to call. This shows weakness, and you can use that to your advantage later by making the same play with big pocket pairs.

Note: It’s usually someone else raising you the 2nd time around. The first guy that re-raised you out of the pot won’t be so inclined to do it with junk, fearing retaliation, so if he comes at you again, he may have something. But the idiot that saw him do it, and thinks it will work every time is the guy you want to re-raise all in if the pot odds do not have him committed. You don’t want him shrugging his shoulders saying “you caught me, but I have to call”, to find out he’s ahead of you with just an Ace.

2 Comment(s):

Posted by  Junelli, at 10:48 AM, November 30, 2005  

This entire post is a "false tell" about Padilla's playing style. He wants us to think he plays that way, so he can ram it up our asses on Sunday!

Nice try Padilla, but I'm onto you!

:)

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Posted by  Padilla, at 12:49 PM, November 30, 2005  

Even better, I'm not playing, but I have chosen one competitor to tutor in the jedi arts.

Look out for my padawan learner, though this side of the force clouds the mind.

Good Luck

p.s. Beware of your opponents pre-flop all-in early in the tourney. If it's Morris, it's AK. For anyone else, it's a scared way of saying "Jacks are good, but I don't want to be the first one out."

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