I was almost there in Holland, in the LIDO. 198 runners and 3000 euros (quasi dollars) buy-in :-
I got really close and there were three hands that I played that I believe illustrate big no limit tournaments very nicely, so I have to insert this article ahead of schedule.
By the way, thanks to the Dutch team for making the 'Masters' a fantastically enjoyable tournament and thanks to Mike Caro's excellent poker probe for the stats.
2.1 Laying Down Kings Pre-Flop
I struggled early in the tournament and after moving tables and getting lucky against Paul Alterman with my 9s cracking his Aces I had about 20,000TC when a low stacked player under the gun moved all in for about 3500 and was immediately re-raised all-in by the next player for about 25,000TC. More than enough to cover me.
I held KK.
What would you do?
Not a player I spoke to agreed with me. They would all have stuck it in.
As you can guess I folded! WHY?
I put the all in player on AK. He's trying to get heads up against the weak all-in player and is shutting us out. I don't like the move as it happens since if he does catch a call, he's in a lot of trouble. But, what about me?
The question you should consider is this!
How big a favourite was I?
Answer : Assuming the AK is not suited (which it was) the AK is a 2.18 : 1 underdog to the KK.
- I have no PLAYABLE chips
- One third of the time I will lose this 'GAMBLE' which is simply what it is!
- I did not travel to sunny Amsterdam to gamble away my tournament -- to flip a slightly uneven coin. I came to play poker.
If you are still not convinced, please read on and see what I consider to be 'poker' as opposed to a mere gamble.
Oh by the way, the AK won the pot hitting an ace on the river for good luck!
2.2 A Big Move Pre-Flop
Down to two tables with Chris Johannson on my left and Martin Pollak on his.
Martin sits down at our table with about 140,000 and I am the second chip leader on our table with 100,000.
He is a tough, aggressive player and proceeds to bully the table. I find AK suited and make it 15,000 to go. Chris passes and Martin (on the button) makes it 35,000.
What do you do?
I moved the rest of my 85,000 in, happy in the knowledge that I was virtually certain to win the pot!
- Martin is a tough player.
- He has position over me.
- What must he have to commit most of his chips?
- I am almost certain he doesn't have a big pair - because I believe that with position he would have flat called. Thus he must fold. QED!
2.3 Trapping Without Committing
I now have 140,000 and am in the zone. I have been giving Chris (on my left) a hard time when I find KK in the small blind. He has 70,000 and I make it to 15000 to go, knowing he is itching to play back at me.
He moves all in with 88.
He hits his straight flush on the river and shares the high hand jackpot and my chips.
Here he is a 4 : 1 underdog and even if I lose (which I did) I still can double through with my remaining stack to get back level! Compare this with the KK I laid down.
Right move - Wrong time.
The important thing about this move was that I was confident I had the best hand pre-flop and that I still had some 70,000TC to spare. Good play - Bad Beat. Still in!
After that it was down hill for me, but I was pleased to say that I played well!
A Bit of Maths:
