Picking spots on the Bubble

Johnith

When remaining stack sizes are something like A: 6000, B: 4000, C, D :2000. When in player B's position how tight should you be agaisnt player A if he is completely reckless. When in player B's position i try to avoid the reckless bigger stack, but im so tight to the point that i'll lay down top pair/weak kicker when faced a pot sized bet even if i know i have player A beat (assuming the blinds are at least 160/320 at this point.) Is this way too tight?

pkrfce9

more info please.

payouts?
i guess you have given us stack sizes and blind levels. also need to understand PF ranges of A and C and current playing positions. all of this can be used to calculate the EV of pushing vs folding for you. usually that is done for PF decisions but it could likely apply for flop decisions as well.

if this is online, a hand history would be very helpful.

Wetts1012

I have found it relatively successfull to attack the aggressive stack in these situations. Occasionally he'll find a nut - but more often than not your going to put yourself in positions to gain - especially if you have a relatively good idea of his range.

Remember - most people follow the style that you outlined above. In these situations the 2-3 smaller stacks get whittled down, then play bingo.

I prefer not to be in that situation.

A few examples from a tournament yesterday: Satellite structure, top 2 get seats, next 2 get cash (6 left). Aggro Villain is making it 3xBB almost every hand:

Seat 1: Altazarh (15,370)
Seat 2: Pocket_Hal (4,865)
Seat 3: pokereyes77 (3,708)
Seat 4: Wetts1012 (6,141)
Seat 5: melissa2141 (4,640)
Seat 6: Calmato (1,276)
melissa2141 posts the small blind of 60
Calmato posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wetts1012 [9h 7h]
Altazarh raises to 360
Pocket_Hal has 15 seconds left to act
Pocket_Hal folds
pokereyes77 folds
Wetts1012 raises to 1,080
melissa2141 folds
Calmato folds
Altazarh folds
Uncalled bet of 840 returned to Wetts1012
Wetts1012 mucks
Wetts1012 wins the pot (780)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 660 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Altazarh folded before the flop
Seat 2: Pocket_Hal didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: pokereyes77 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Wetts1012 (button) collected (780), mucked
Seat 5: melissa2141 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Calmato (big blind) folded before the Flop



Full Tilt Poker Game #8782503139: Satellite to FTOPS Event #1 (66987142), Table 2 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:07:25 ET - 2008/11/02
Seat 1: Altazarh (19,895)
Seat 3: pokereyes77 (4,384)
Seat 4: Wetts1012 (6,241)
Seat 5: melissa2141 (5,480)
pokereyes77 posts the small blind of 80
Wetts1012 posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wetts1012 [6c 6h]
melissa2141 has 15 seconds left to act
melissa2141 folds
Altazarh raises to 480
pokereyes77 folds
Wetts1012 calls 320
*** FLOP *** [3c 4s Qh]
Wetts1012 checks
Altazarh has 15 seconds left to act
Altazarh bets 700
Wetts1012 raises to 5,761, and is all in
Altazarh folds
Uncalled bet of 5,061 returned to Wetts1012
Wetts1012 mucks
Wetts1012 wins the pot (2,440)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,440 | Rake 0
Board: [3c 4s Qh]
Seat 1: Altazarh folded on the Flop
Seat 3: pokereyes77 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Wetts1012 (big blind) collected (2,440), mucked
Seat 5: melissa2141 didn't bet (folded)


So my suggestion: Play back! As long as you know your villain and the respective ranges, they will fold just as easily as you currently do.

Johnith

yeah i guess your right! I guess its a pretty bad way to play if you still fold hands when your about 90% sure your ahead even if its agaisnt the larger stack on the bubble. As well if you do get it all in with the best hand agaisnt the larger stack, the chips you gain would help insure a first place finish!