Who let the Dawg out?

[Brijac]

While I don't think that the raise was the best move, I don't think it was a bad move either. Seeing how conservative the play became, A7 would be a good hand to steal the blinds without worrying too much about a call. The only hands that I would see calling that would be Ax and any pocket pair (preferably not too low).

In this situation, I like your aggressive play and you did get all your money in the pot (and his) with the best hand.

[Talking Poker]

I wouldn't have even called with Ace little here. Again, you are probably dominated, and why risk it? There was no money in the pot (prior to the all in). Why not wait until you know you are a big favorite instead of hoping you arne't too much of a dog and relying on "luck?"

I guess it just REALLY surprised me to see those cards when they were turned over. After watching what looked like such a skillfull heads up battle for a half an hour or so, I didn't expect to see either of these players call all in as dog unless they got trapped or they both had really big hands. Yes, I realize 60/40 is not a huge dog, but still - the entire tourney was on the line, and it could have been a lot worse.

Regarding the all in bet, I think your logic was fine, nutbag. I probably would have just raised after he limped in though - Again, the blinds were quite small relative to your stacks. Then, if he came over the top of you (meaning he was indeed trapping you and you were in bad shape), you could fold and still be alive.

[bdawg31]

Hmmm - why did i make the call? Since we are amongst friends - i will tell you. I don't consider myself a very good heads-up player. I think i can hold my own in the other stages, though. I have quite a few 2nd place finishes in tourneys around this size (and not from making these types of big calls - from trying to 'outplay' heads-up). And there have been a few times i have had my money in with the best of it and lost - but there are more times i get too cute or over-think or whatever.

So, with the chip count even - i limped in wiht a hand i was almost for sure going to call an all-in bet. Why? I figure an all-in bet would mean he would NOT have AA, KK or probably not QQ. I was scared he might do it with an AK or JJ hand which would have been real bad news for me - but what can you do. So, when he goes all-in - i figure i am probably at worst around a 50/50 shot (give or take a few percentages) - at best i might catch him semi-bluffing with who knows what (as he pointed out - there had been a TON of quick folds preflop to big bets). So, i am probably around 50/50 to win that specific hand (and the tourney) - i figured at BEST i am 50/50 to win just playing it out (maybe worse - that is a nod to you nutbagger). I am probably not an even bet when we were even with chips.

I dont take questioning the call as insulting at all. Just looking at that specific hand history, i can see why people would question it. I would question it.

I am content with the way i played - ChipFish was at my table the whole time. I think he can verify that he didnt see me making any loosey-goosey calls along the way, showing junky hands or whatever. I didnt stumble my way to the final table - and i didnt stumble my way to the money or heads up. I did stumble my way a bit to the #1 spot, but i am cool with that. I got lucky on the bad side of a coin flip at the end - other than that i dont think i showed one suckout hand or bad hand that i played (note that i say 'showed' :-)

[Talking Poker]

I think you are underestimating yourself, Novice... I only played with you on the final table, and other than possibly risking your stack a little more than I would have (I didn't see your cards, because people were always folding to your big all in bets), I thought you played great poker. And when you guys got to heads up, he had a HUGE chip lead over you. You built it all the way up, and then this.......

I understand your logic, I guess, but if you were trying to avoid seeing flops and were willing to call all in with KJ, why not just push in using the same logic nutbag used? Then, one of two things happens:

1. He folds and you increase your chip lead (very likely).
2. He calls and you are in the exact same situation as above (less likely).

[bdawg31]

yes - i will take this all under consideration - thanks for the input. Of course, i am always tweaking and experimenting with my game - but way more so with my heads-up-at-final-table game.

[ChipFish]

I think Pokernovice has learned a concept that many here seemed to have missed for tourney poker.... (It is less effective headsup)
Less than 10 BBs = push or fold.
That is why he was pushing his stack in....
There is no fold equity if he merely calls or mini-raises.

[Talking Poker]

I don't think this applies to calling all in (especially heads up).

Also, where did you get the 10 BB number? That seems high to me.

[ChipFish]

I was speaking of his play prior to his heads-up play "call" there were 5-9 players left and he was relatively shortstacked....
You even called his frequent all-ins suspect.
So you are correct, it is for pushing all-in, on an unraised pot.

10 BB is the number... Learn it.
Got it from a pretty well known player...
In fact I am 100% certain you have watched him win a rather large entry event on television .

[Talking Poker]

Does he have a name??? Would he be upset with you for sharing his magical 10 BB (and I assume that stands for Big blind in this case) rule of thumb?

Come on, boy - out with it already!

[Kurn]

With 10BB or less, if you make a normal 3x BB raise and get called, the pot size commits the rest of your chips postflop. Since there's no rationale with betting 30% of your stack with any intention of folding on the flop, you push all-in to increase your fold equity.