6.5t

Hey guys,

Gonna put on the poker for a while, at least until May, because I need to get to at least SilverStar. I only have 400 VPPs to go or so, but still, at 3VPPs/sng, it takes a while. 500 SNGs a month is a lot for me. Amounts to 16 SNGs a day, or 2 hours of playing while 8-tabling, which isn't good for my game - yet.

When you are learning, you have to reduce the amount of tables. You should only start adding tables when you are making break-even plays at worst. A professional SNG player suggested 2-tabling. It's much better to move up to higher stakes 4-tabling rather than 8-table a lower stake. Of course, you should have the bankroll for it.

Today, I'll look at a hand history of a friend of mine, Verbloten, and his 6.50 SNG.



Hand #1

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t10/t20
9 players
Converter


Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is SB with :tc :qc
UTG calls t20 (pot was t30), 4 folds, CO calls t20 (pot was t50), Button folds, Hero calls t10 (pot was t70), BB checks.


Flop: (t80) :3c :kd :5c (4 players)
Hero bets t80, 2 folds, CO calls t80 (pot was t160).


Turn: (t240) :6h (2 players)
Hero bets t120, CO calls t120 (pot was t360).


River: (t480) :9c (2 players)
Hero bets t160, CO calls t160 (pot was t640).


Results:
Final pot: t800


I dislike this hand very much. The preflop call is okay, I guess. Getting nice odds on the call with two suited broadways.

There are t4 players on the flop, so I really dislike this bet. The chances that someone has a K - especially UTG - are large. Betting here will only get a call. You are OOP so you can't bet it or raise it on the flop and then check behind on the turn. Remember, when you are drawing, your goal is to draw for the least amount possible while maintaining good odds.

On the turn, Hero fires again. CO has said that he has a king, and a half-pot bet isn't going to scare him away if he called the flop. Hell, he might even raise you. After that bad bet on the flop, this is an even worse bet.

On ther river, Hero caught his flush, bet 1/3rd of the pot, and those odds were much too good for CO. Bad play by both players if CO had a K with a good kicker. CO should've raised on the turn at least, preferably on the flop. Hero shouldn't of bet flop, should've check/called to the river with proper odds. First hand, you have no reads, no point in getting frisky.



Hand #2
Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t25/t50
8 players
Converter


Pre-flop: (8 players) Hero is MP2 with :kh :kc
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls t50 (pot was t75), MP1 folds, Hero raises to t200, 4 folds, UTG+1 calls t150 (pot was t325).


Flop: (t475) :9s :tc :jh (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets t200, UTG+1 raises all-in t925, Hero calls t725 (pot was t1600).


Turn: (t2325) :qd (1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t2325)



River: (t2325) :9c (1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t2325)



Results:
Final pot: t2325


Overall good hand. I don't like the flop bet, it entices draws to call and push you. I would bet 300 since you're calling an allin anyway at these stakes. At 25+2, I would bet 300 and fold, in all honesty.




Hand #3


Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t50/t100
7 players
Converter


Pre-flop: (7 players) Hero is SB with :ac :4c
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls t100 (pot was t150), 3 folds, Hero raises all-in t585, BB raises to t970, UTG+1 folds.
Uncalled bets: t385 returned to BB.



Results:
Final pot: t1270




I'm actually unsure about this hand. You obviously have no FE with the limper, and two people left to act behind you. I'll post it on 2+2 and see what they come up with. Your tournament life is by no means over!


Those were the three main hands of the tournament. Overall game was decent, though I think there are some leaks postflop. Didn't get to see the push/folding at 1/200 and 2/400.