Often when I am playing my coach will observe and provide advice, especially when late in a tournament. There are lots of free software programmes available online to aid this, such as Mikogo, which allows a user to observe another users desktop in real time, and Skype which allows for audio communication.
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So we're 4.5 hours in; 25e rebuy online, around 300 players started and only 7 remain. It's a shorthanded tournament, maximum players per table: 6 - we're on the final table bubble and everyone's play has adjusted to reflect the situation. Some players are more passive on bubbles due to fear of not cashing, other players are more aggresive to take advantage of the threat of bubbling and build a stack capable of winning the tournament.
For me I like to review each bubble as a individual scenario, and determine whether I am playing to just cash or for a top spot. Then, adjust my playing style accordingly - this could depend on many factors; the payout structure, my stack size, the cash size of the bubble. In this game? everything aligns, first place only.
The final table payouts increase with every spot and as with most poker payout structures, it is heavily weighted towards the top; just over 2.6k euros for first place, followed by 1.6k for second, 1k third, 650 fourth, 400 fifth, and a pitiful 250 euros for 6th - we currently have from our original 75e investment (1 rebuy 1 add on, standard), 190e guaranteed for a top 7 place but as always, we aspire for more.
Our position is 3rd out of 7, we have circa. 80k chips and the big blind is 1600 with running antes of 200. We recently moved table as 8th and 9th position dropped, and are now 3 handed. On our table is the chip leader with just over 120k chips and 5th position with around 40k chips. Noone in the competition is short and the standard is high; 7th place on the other table has over 20 big blinds...this means it will most likely be a long and gruelling final table bubble.
We pick up KJ offsuit on the button and open with a standard raise of around 2.5x the big blind to 4000. 3 handed, KJ on the button is off considerable strength. The small blind folds, and the big stack in the big blind re-raises to 11000.
Not for 1 minute do we believe this raise and we aint green. We've recently joined the table so don't have much information on the player but our gut says he is raising because he wants control of the table...if we fold here, our first button raise since joining the table, we'll be percieved as weak and will have an uphill battle being constantly re-raised until the final table bubble passes, by which time our stack may be short and it will be a struggle to take the 1st position finish. We haven't got time to wait for premium cards, not 3 handed.
Best to make a stand now, while we have enough chips to do so and prior to him having solid information on the style we play. Best to die trying than bimble into an average finish, one 1st place equates to finishing 7th seventeen times (2600/150) and we get late enough in tournaments to know that the top spots are worth risking it all for. We flat call to take advantage of position - second to act postflop, this might prove beneficial later.
The flop brings K92 with 2 clubs. The pot is around 26k and the big stack instantly raises to 13k, leaving around 95k behind....not convinced that he has a many made holdings in his range.
Lets re-raise, just over 30k, leaves us around 40k behind - We have the best hand a good enough percentage of the time, not the place for slow playing. Lets take the pot now. Our re-raise also achieves another, and just as vital goal; We will be percieved as the table bully. While we are 3 handed it will be us that steals blinds and small pots, it will be us that pressures the bubble and tops up my stack ready for a glorious final table victory!!
He is obviously blinded with ambition similiar to our own and instantly shoves all in for another 60k which covers our stack, threatening the final table bubble.
Best click the timebank. Time to think.
The pot is twice the size of any other player in the tournament and we're on the final table bubble. This pot will define the tournament, and the victor standing tall above all others on the final table.
Just think what we could buy with 2.7k, 54 premium noshes...Got to stay focused, back to the hand.
We realise that not much time has been invested into considering our opponents possible holdings as we've been too engrossed in the situation, he doesn't have AA or AK or KK that's pretty certain - but what else could he have? K92...999 or 222 maybe? AQ AJ AT KQ KJ QQ JJ TT?? none feel right. Reading opponents holdings is usually one of our strongest areas in the pokerworld, here we are at aloss.
"Nudge" sent to mentor on msn, he's watching the game via his own poker software but has not been paying much attention as he is probably in 4 or 5 games himself....A quick summary of the hand sent hastely to him over msn including details of the preflop and postflop action. We explain;
"I think he is weak here, but I can't figure out what he might have...."
After a moments silence and a short analysis of the situation, he replies "TJcc", which, in normal tongue, translates to; Ten Jack of Clubs.
Genius! and deduced within a moment of process, we are in awe.
This makes perfect sense, TJcc is an ideal hand to re-raise preflop with and a perfect hand to bet out and re-shove post flop. He is drawing of course! Queen gives him a straight and any club a flush, the reason he is shoving is to provide additional equity to his hand (the chance of us folding).
After a moments glisten, we sigh with realisation. These situations occur so often and end in the same manner; a great call rewarded with nothing but bitterness brought by the persistently cunning and deviant poker gods - call here and we are just over 50% favourite to win. This pot will define the game. A 50/50 coin flip worth probably 2500 euros.
The pot odds are too good to fold now, we have commited too many chips to fold, we are convinced of his holding!
A rush of excitement fills our senses and our eyes widen, "call"...click
The poker programme reveals his cards in preparation for the showdown - TJcc as depicted.
52.5% plays 46.5% with a 1% margin for tie (QT)
The turn card is a low club
The river card...meaningless
We lose to his flush.
Once again foiled when so close to glory
As always, Forever bitter. A breathe exits in sigh and a moments taken for realisation as the table closes.
Halfway through the moment...."beep beep beep", refocused we scan the displays and the other games flash as to beg for attention. While pondering actions on each, we concurrently flicker a moments notice to the second display where two black aces stare back at us in the 50 freeze.
AA, mid position, aggressive table with short stacks on edge to the left and last 15 with 20 big blinds? Showtime.
KJ already long forgotten - lets just win one of these bad boys
I love plans
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So we're 4.5 hours in; 25e rebuy online, around 300 players started and only 7 remain. It's a shorthanded tournament, maximum players per table: 6 - we're on the final table bubble and everyone's play has adjusted to reflect the situation. Some players are more passive on bubbles due to fear of not cashing, other players are more aggresive to take advantage of the threat of bubbling and build a stack capable of winning the tournament.
For me I like to review each bubble as a individual scenario, and determine whether I am playing to just cash or for a top spot. Then, adjust my playing style accordingly - this could depend on many factors; the payout structure, my stack size, the cash size of the bubble. In this game? everything aligns, first place only.
The final table payouts increase with every spot and as with most poker payout structures, it is heavily weighted towards the top; just over 2.6k euros for first place, followed by 1.6k for second, 1k third, 650 fourth, 400 fifth, and a pitiful 250 euros for 6th - we currently have from our original 75e investment (1 rebuy 1 add on, standard), 190e guaranteed for a top 7 place but as always, we aspire for more.
Our position is 3rd out of 7, we have circa. 80k chips and the big blind is 1600 with running antes of 200. We recently moved table as 8th and 9th position dropped, and are now 3 handed. On our table is the chip leader with just over 120k chips and 5th position with around 40k chips. Noone in the competition is short and the standard is high; 7th place on the other table has over 20 big blinds...this means it will most likely be a long and gruelling final table bubble.
We pick up KJ offsuit on the button and open with a standard raise of around 2.5x the big blind to 4000. 3 handed, KJ on the button is off considerable strength. The small blind folds, and the big stack in the big blind re-raises to 11000.
Not for 1 minute do we believe this raise and we aint green. We've recently joined the table so don't have much information on the player but our gut says he is raising because he wants control of the table...if we fold here, our first button raise since joining the table, we'll be percieved as weak and will have an uphill battle being constantly re-raised until the final table bubble passes, by which time our stack may be short and it will be a struggle to take the 1st position finish. We haven't got time to wait for premium cards, not 3 handed.
Best to make a stand now, while we have enough chips to do so and prior to him having solid information on the style we play. Best to die trying than bimble into an average finish, one 1st place equates to finishing 7th seventeen times (2600/150) and we get late enough in tournaments to know that the top spots are worth risking it all for. We flat call to take advantage of position - second to act postflop, this might prove beneficial later.
The flop brings K92 with 2 clubs. The pot is around 26k and the big stack instantly raises to 13k, leaving around 95k behind....not convinced that he has a many made holdings in his range.
Lets re-raise, just over 30k, leaves us around 40k behind - We have the best hand a good enough percentage of the time, not the place for slow playing. Lets take the pot now. Our re-raise also achieves another, and just as vital goal; We will be percieved as the table bully. While we are 3 handed it will be us that steals blinds and small pots, it will be us that pressures the bubble and tops up my stack ready for a glorious final table victory!!
He is obviously blinded with ambition similiar to our own and instantly shoves all in for another 60k which covers our stack, threatening the final table bubble.
Best click the timebank. Time to think.
The pot is twice the size of any other player in the tournament and we're on the final table bubble. This pot will define the tournament, and the victor standing tall above all others on the final table.
Just think what we could buy with 2.7k, 54 premium noshes...Got to stay focused, back to the hand.
We realise that not much time has been invested into considering our opponents possible holdings as we've been too engrossed in the situation, he doesn't have AA or AK or KK that's pretty certain - but what else could he have? K92...999 or 222 maybe? AQ AJ AT KQ KJ QQ JJ TT?? none feel right. Reading opponents holdings is usually one of our strongest areas in the pokerworld, here we are at aloss.
"Nudge" sent to mentor on msn, he's watching the game via his own poker software but has not been paying much attention as he is probably in 4 or 5 games himself....A quick summary of the hand sent hastely to him over msn including details of the preflop and postflop action. We explain;
"I think he is weak here, but I can't figure out what he might have...."
After a moments silence and a short analysis of the situation, he replies "TJcc", which, in normal tongue, translates to; Ten Jack of Clubs.
Genius! and deduced within a moment of process, we are in awe.
This makes perfect sense, TJcc is an ideal hand to re-raise preflop with and a perfect hand to bet out and re-shove post flop. He is drawing of course! Queen gives him a straight and any club a flush, the reason he is shoving is to provide additional equity to his hand (the chance of us folding).
After a moments glisten, we sigh with realisation. These situations occur so often and end in the same manner; a great call rewarded with nothing but bitterness brought by the persistently cunning and deviant poker gods - call here and we are just over 50% favourite to win. This pot will define the game. A 50/50 coin flip worth probably 2500 euros.
The pot odds are too good to fold now, we have commited too many chips to fold, we are convinced of his holding!
A rush of excitement fills our senses and our eyes widen, "call"...click
The poker programme reveals his cards in preparation for the showdown - TJcc as depicted.
52.5% plays 46.5% with a 1% margin for tie (QT)
The turn card is a low club
The river card...meaningless
We lose to his flush.
Once again foiled when so close to glory
As always, Forever bitter. A breathe exits in sigh and a moments taken for realisation as the table closes.
Halfway through the moment...."beep beep beep", refocused we scan the displays and the other games flash as to beg for attention. While pondering actions on each, we concurrently flicker a moments notice to the second display where two black aces stare back at us in the 50 freeze.
AA, mid position, aggressive table with short stacks on edge to the left and last 15 with 20 big blinds? Showtime.
KJ already long forgotten - lets just win one of these bad boys
I love plans
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