MTT tourney analysis - ridiculously long (part 1)

[Irexes]

This is a look at some of the key hands in the Party 300k Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday NLHE MTT I played today.

As I went through I copied the Hand Histories of what I felt were key hands, because I either gained chips, lost them, or avoided trouble by folding.

It's going to be long and in a few parts but will hopefully be a good reference for me and if anyone manages to plough through it they might find it interesting. I lost a couple of hands due to having to switch to my laptop when my PC Internet connection played up.

Hand 1

***** Hand History for Game 5665017073 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 1 Blinds(20/40) - Sunday, February 11, 12:50:10 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (real money)
Seat 7 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 5080 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 4940 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 5780 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 5360 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 4840 )
Seat 6: kikamo ( 4900 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 4940 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 4160 )
Seat 9: Soffre ( 4960 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 4240 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 1
Blinds(20/40)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes [10h] [10c]
patzo111 folds
midget2150 folds
tingting666 folds
JoeyGall raises [120]
Irexes calls [120]
Rockstopper folds
kikamo folds
larueGG folds
dolfdekraai folds
Soffre calls [80]
** Dealing Flop ** Q♦ 7♣ [10s]
Soffre checks
JoeyGall checks
Irexes bets [210]
Soffre calls [210]
JoeyGall calls [210]
** Dealing Turn ** A♣
Soffre checks
JoeyGall bets [520]
Irexes raises [1500]
Soffre calls [1500]
JoeyGall folds
** Dealing River ** 2♥
Soffre checks
Irexes checks
Soffre shows A♥, K♦a pair of Aces.
Irexes shows [10h], [10c] three of a kind, Tens.
Irexes wins 4530 chips from the main pot with three of a kind, Tens.

The ace was a great card on the turn. I should have bet the river. QQ and AA are the the only things that could beat me here and they don't make sense. Missed an opportunity to value bet here due to being very early in the tourney and not wanting to make a mistake. To eager to scoop the pot.

Hand 2

***** Hand History for Game 5665072353 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 2 Blinds(30/60) - Sunday, February 11, 13:05:52 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 6500 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 5430 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 4550 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 8060 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 4680 )
Seat 6: kikamo ( 3610 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 6020 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 3160 )
Seat 9: Soffre ( 3330 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 3860 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 2
Blinds(30/60)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes 3♦ 2♥
larueGG folds
dolfdekraai calls [60]
Soffre calls [60]
patzo111 folds
midget2150 folds
tingting666 calls [60]
JoeyGall folds
Irexes calls [60]
Rockstopper calls [30]
kikamo checks
** Dealing Flop ** 2♦,8♣,3♠
Rockstopper checks
kikamo checks
dolfdekraai checks
Soffre checks
tingting666 bets [300]
Irexes raises [1000]
Rockstopper folds
kikamo folds
dolfdekraai folds
Soffre folds
tingting666 folds
Irexes does not show cards.
Irexes wins 1660 chips

Implied odds are wonderful with big stacks, small blinds and lots of limpers. I've flopped 2 pair but it's very vulnerable to bein counterfeit. Raise it up and take it down or induce a reraise from a set.

Hand 3

***** Hand History for Game 5665103061 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 2 Blinds(30/60) - Sunday, February 11, 13:13:34 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 6560 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 4890 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 4310 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 8420 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 4620 )
Seat 6: kikamo ( 3910 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 5360 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 3280 )
Seat 9: Soffre ( 4560 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 3290 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 2
Blinds(30/60)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes A♦ J♥
Irexes calls [60]
Rockstopper folds
kikamo folds
larueGG folds
dolfdekraai raises [240]
Soffre calls [240]
patzo111 folds
midget2150 folds
tingting666 folds
JoeyGall folds
Irexes calls [180]
** Dealing Flop ** 5♦, Q♣, [10c]
Irexes checks
dolfdekraai checks
Soffre checks
** Dealing Turn ** 6♣
Irexes bets [400]
dolfdekraai folds
Soffre calls [400]
** Dealing River ** 5♥
Irexes bets [500]
Soffre raises [1000]
Irexes folds
Soffre shows K♣ A♣a flush, Ace high.
Soffre wins 3110 chips from the main pot with a flush, Ace high.

I limp AJ under the gun pretty often with low blinds and deep stacks and play for big hand value (two pair+ rather than Top pair)
I didn't like my preflop call of the raise here and debated for a while. Nothing on the flop and not worth taking a stab. The turn give the opportunity to represent the flush so I have a go.
On the river I decide to have another stab at it as I'm unconvinced he has a flush and I think I'm representing it well. His reraise is enough to convince me I'm wrong and I fold.
Should have listed to my instinct and folded AJ out of position, if an A high flop had come I would have been in trouble.

The very next hand

Hand 4

***** Hand History for Game 5665176239 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 3 Blinds(50/100) - Sunday, February 11, 13:32:14 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 8320 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 2390 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 4030 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 5240 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 3730 )
Seat 6: kikamo ( 4990 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 4520 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 7690 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 8290 )
Seat 9: SenoRisto ( 6580 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 3
Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes K♥ A♠
kikamo raises [200]
larueGG folds
dolfdekraai folds
SenoRisto folds
patzo111 folds
midget2150 folds
tingting666 folds
JoeyGall folds
Irexes raises [650]
Rockstopper folds
kikamo calls [500]
** Dealing Flop ** 9♠, 6♠, Q♠
Irexes checks
kikamo bets [300]
Irexes calls [300]
** Dealing Turn ** [10d]
Irexes bets [1100]
kikamo calls [1100]
** Dealing River ** 2♠
Irexes is all-In [3140]
kikamo folds
Irexes does not show cards.
Irexes wins 7440 chips

The previous hand gives me the opportunity to fake a bit of steaming as I've lost a few thousand and been forced to fold on the river. Unlike the normal tournies I play in $33-$55 you can guarantee that eveyone is paying attention to what is happening whether they are in the hand or not so it's easier to get a feel for your table image.
The preflop reraise was pretty aggressive for the table (we are nearly an hour in) so his call indicates he has something worthwhile.
I like my call on the flop. I could have reraised, but I think my intention after the flop is to try and stack him if my draw hits.
I miss the turn so I have to bet. It gives me the chance to take the pot and it builds it in case I see the river and hit. His call is a worry, it is hard to put him on less than Qx here KQ being favourite.
When the spade hits (thankfully) I think the best move is the push and hope he has the K or J of spades or believes I'm semi-bluffung. Unfortunately my preflop play makes it easy for him to think he's beaten either by the flush or AQ, KK, AA. A value bet of 1000 may have been a better option though... might have left some chips on the table here.
If I'd missed the river I'd have had to check this, I've enough of a stack to try again.

Hand 5

***** Hand History for Game 5665190048 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 3 Blinds(50/100) - Sunday, February 11, 13:35:50 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 8470 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 2390 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 4030 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 7440 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 4770 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 5220 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 7540 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 10140 )
Seat 9: SenoRisto ( 5780 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 3
Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes A♣ K♦
midget2150 folds
tingting666 calls [100]
JoeyGall folds
Irexes raises [300]
Rockstopper folds
larueGG raises [700]
dolfdekraai folds
SenoRisto folds
patzo111 calls [600]
tingting666 folds
Irexes folds
** Dealing Flop ** [10h], J♠, 5♦
patzo111 checks
larueGG bets [800]
patzo111 folds
larueGG shows A♠, A♦a pair of Aces.
larueGG wins 2650 chips from the main pot with a pair of Aces.

I can only put larueGG on AA or KK here first reraise in 58 hands. I love this fold as I have only 400 to call a pot of 1600 with AK. Trouble is I'm almost doomed to bet the flop and if an A or K hit I'm in real bother. Note this is based on my specific read and the buy-in. In a $33 MTT I call and re-evaluate on the flop (though I'd be really wary). Weak-tight or smashing read?

Hand 6

***** Hand History for Game 5665226114 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny: 31704492 Level: 3 Blinds(50/100) - Sunday, February 11, 13:50:04 ET 2007
Table 300K Guaranteed Sunday (913000) Table #83 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: midget2150 ( 7370 )
Seat 2: tingting666 ( 5080 )
Seat 3: JoeyGall ( 3680 )
Seat 4: Irexes ( 7040 )
Seat 5: Rockstopper ( 2530 )
Seat 7: larueGG ( 6270 )
Seat 8: dolfdekraai ( 7240 )
Seat 10: patzo111 ( 10140 )
Seat 9: SenoRisto ( 6430 )
Seat 6: fogrady ( 4550 )
Trny: 31704492 Level: 4
Blinds(100/200)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Irexes J♣ 8♦
fogrady calls [200]
larueGG folds
dolfdekraai folds
SenoRisto folds
patzo111 folds
midget2150 folds
tingting666 folds
JoeyGall folds
Irexes calls [100]
Rockstopper checks
** Dealing Flop ** 7♣, 6♦, 8♥
Irexes bets [450]
Rockstopper folds
fogrady is all-In [4350]
Irexes folds
fogrady does not show cards.
fogrady wins 5400 chips

I'm either beat or he has balls of steel. He said he had K9s. Based on his play (he went out not long after I believe him), balls of steel it was, though I stil like my fold, there's better spots.


Thanks for reading (or at least scrolling down) Part 2 to follow

 

[Egon Towst]

Nice post, m8.

A few observations, for what they are worth:

Hand 2: I take your point about limpers and implied odds, but I doubt that many of us would have played this one. Your hand is just so weak you need a miracle flop to give you anything playable, and even then you will always be vulnerable.

As it happens, you got your miracle here, but is this move really +EV ?

Hand 3: I agree with your analysis. You probably pushed this one further than it was worth.

Hand 6: Not absolutely sure I would have bothered making up the other half of the blind here. Your hand is weak. You need to hit the flop hard and, even if you do, you`re unlikely to get paid off with so few other players in the pot. On the other hand, you do have plenty of chips and can afford some speculation.

As it played out, I agree with you - must be right to fold here.

 

[Irexes]

The 23o hand. For 60 chips of 8060 on the button with 3 limpers ahead, I'll call with pretty much anything other than 72o (slight exaggeration, but not much).

Is it +EV? possibly not, but I'm hardly ever losing more than 60 chips which hurts me not at all and I'm occassionally (very occassionally) winning 1000+ or even stacking someone. I'm trying to lose small pots and win big ones and this is good opportunity to see a flop very cheaply. Sometimes marginally chip -EV moves make sense in MTTs as the big positives account for the tiny negatives. If it were ring it would suck as a move.

Up the blinds or shrink my stack or no limpers and it's an instafold.


Same kind of thing applies with the J8o hand though with only one limper and a very tight big blind I'm looking to exploit anything decent on the flop and pick up a reasonable pot.


Hand three, I got it wrong

 

[Dorkus Malorkus]

#1

You pretty much said it, not betting the river here is bad.

#2

PF is of course debatable (fwiw i probably fold here 75% of the time), flop is standard.

#3

Limp-calling with AJ can only lead to a world of pain. What do you do OOP if an Ace flops? I know you said you were playing it for 'big hand value', but that essentially went out of the window when you called the raise. Check-folding TPJK if an Ace flops would be really weak, but at the same time there's a large chance we're in kicker trouble. Just avoid the possiblity of haivng to make very awkward decisions postflop and fold.

#4

Betting the turn looks so suspicious here (and seeing as you have Ace high you don't want it to look suspicious. I agree there is somewhat of an obligation for you to bet here given previous action, but I'd rather have led or check-raised the flop to (a) make a turn lead look less suspect and (b) maybe just take the pot down, which would be fine.

#5

Nice fold given the read. Small reraises from a generally passive player usually equal death.

#6

Ick. The overbet shove really doesn't look like it wants a call, and hence I really want to say call, but in truth I probably fold here too unless I've actually seen villain overbet shove with crap or draws before. With 70bbs, you're right, there are better spots.

 

[Irexes]

Thanks Dorkus

#3

Limp-calling with AJ can only lead to a world of pain. What do you do OOP if an Ace flops? I know you said you were playing it for 'big hand value', but that essentially went out of the wondow when you called the raise. Check-folding TPJK if an Ace flops would be really weak, but at the same time there's a large chance we're in kicker trouble.

If I limp with AJ (and I would only do this in early position) and it's not raised then I play the ace on the flop as if I'm up against A2s-ATo/s. Very few people limp AQ-AK in a pot with a limper ahead so you can pretty much rule them out. If someone hits a flop with an Ace in it, it's probably a weaker kicker than the J.

I appreciate this is dangerous, but the aim is to stack someone who can't let go of AT on a Axx flop. I'm betting the flop reasonably hard (pot sizedish) to really find out what the situation is. Of course with the blinds in cheap any two pair and all sets are possible. It is a risky play to be used with caution and I'm backing some postflop discretion to get me out of trouble, I'm not automatically assuming my AJ is good if the flop is Axx.

Some of the previous is self-contradictory - yay!

Against a raise following the AJ limp I would usually fold and should have here. In the case of my call I will let the pot go if an ace hits as my kicker is pretty much worthless. Badly misplayed hand from me only slightly redeemed by not paying 500 on the end.

 

[Dorkus Malorkus]

Just to clarify, I don't have any real problem with the original limp with AJo for the reasons you stated, but if you find yourself being tempted to call raises as you did, I'd much prefer to just fold it first time around.

 

[Irexes]

I couldn't agree with you more, the limp is to avoid trouble, then I got involved anyway

No discipline.

 

[TheRifle]

Thanks for posting these hands - I hope you did well. Dorkus pretty much got it said so I don't have anything specific to add but do have a question. You said you would call with pretty much anything on the button in the 32o hand. What sort of show of strength in front of you would have stopped you calling?

 

[Irexes]

Any raise at all and I fold.

With that many limpers I'm getting good value for my 40 chips. Even though I'm very rarely hitting the flop hard enough to keep me interested. The implied odds are huge. Even so it's marginal, with the blinds much bigger, any raise or only one or two limpers it's a fold for me.