Using the GAP Theory to define your hand.

[tenbob]

2nd time writing this post, had a power cut half way though the first one

Lets look at a problem hand. Its the mid stages of an MTT, im deepstacked with 10K, the tournament chip leader is in middle position, im on the button, with the blinds at 100/200.

I look down to see AJo. Not a bad hand on the button, first instinct is to raise.

BUT HOLD ON the chip leader raises 600 pre-flop, the table folds to me. Leaving me the 3 options that we all face in poker. Call/Fold/Raise. In all cases the chip leader is holding AA.

Calling : While I dont know my oppoents holding i could speculate here and call for 600 to see if i hit the flop hard. My hand is OK, I was going to raise 600 myself so calling is the same isnt it ? I call, the flop comes A J 2 rainbow, doh.............. we go broke, but how could I have gotten away from it ?

Fold : Ok the GAP concept states that we need a stronger hand to call with than raise with, MP could have KQ and im ahead, or AA and im behind, just not worth the risk.

Re-raise : Im a loose aggressive player and i want to play here.But I want to define my opponents hand, im deepstacked at this stage, he could have KQ and im ahead, or AA and im behind. If I reraise ONLY a bigger hand is calling AK would call (maybe) here, so would AQ (maybe) and hope to hit the flop. I can make my decision now on the flop much easier if he comes out betting on the flop, unfraid of my pre-flop reraise, defining his possible holdings much better.

But wait, what if he re-raises again ? Then i KNOW, with an accurate degree of certainty that im facing a monster hand, and i can safely fold, leaving me with 8K behind, still deepstacked.

I raise 1,200 more, the chip leader shoves, I fold easy decision, Im still in the game, didnt make the 2nd best hand and got away relatively cheaply.

The re-raise was used to great effect there, we tested the chip leader and got our answer, we used the fact that only a better hand than ours is raising, and the specluative hands that most strong players raise with will usually fold.

Hope this makes sense, btw 2K posts now

Edit: I have a present for ye all, check the gallery.

 

[Lo-Dog]

Well you said you were going to make 2000 a good one. You are not liar.
Nice post.

 

[Schatzdog]

Sensei TB, nice post.

 

[ChuckTs]

Good post TB. I agree; raise early while you've still got a chance to dump it should you feel your behind, and you don't get caught with a falsely nice flop like AJx

Then again Chip leader could dick around and smooth call your raise and trap you on a 'good' flop for you...if he's feeling risky. Just a thought...


@pic: ahhh yeh drunk buggers Good to match faces to you guys...

 

[Bombjack]

But it has cost you nearly 20% of your stack to find out... wouldn't it be better just to bin it and tangle with someone smaller, with a better hand?

 

[tenbob]

But it has cost you nearly 20% of your stack to find out... wouldn't it be better just to bin it and tangle with someone smaller, with a better hand?

I agree, its not the point of the OP though. You could replace the AJ with a hand like 10 10 / JJ etc

 

[Mad_Mike989]

Excellent example of the GAP concept, bravo. Combating re-raises is a tough thing to do with a stealing hand like AJ.

 

[joosebuck]

deepstacked im folding my ajo to the chipleader bro. im looking to pick on shortstacks!

 

[beardyian]

As the chip leader has only raised the usual 3x the BB you could also consider that he may be trying to nick the pot and so a re-raise should indeed test him out.

Although AJ = urgh, not a nice hand in many of times - with this i would have to consider just how he has been playing previously.

 

[joosebuck]

with a better read (him bullying) i will obviously not fold immediately. this was a decision without much of a read.

 

[tenbob]

/me wishes he NEVER gave an EXAMPLE hand.

Replace AJ with QQ if you like

 

[beardyian]

/me wishes he NEVER gave an EXAMPLE hand.

Replace AJ with QQ if you like

Thats a better one lol