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I pulled the 5% out of the Phil Gordon book..Little Green Book. I could have made it 5.8% but just cut it down.
Here's the example that jumpstarted this thread. M of 10.8. Picking up 800 chips is a nice addition to the stack at this stage, where players are playing tight. They might lay down a pair themselves, if it's under nines, but most likely they are looking for double up opportunities as well. In general, table has been playing tight and scared, since we are on the bubble. A few have typed in the chat box that they just want to get the bubble over with so, implying they want their money and then will loosen up. This is a $22 180 man tourney on Stars. I figured I could either push or limp in and maybe see a flop and bet a raggedy board. A raise is out of the question. How would you play this? MP2 is a tight player, who comes in for a raise with a top notch hand. MP2 doesn't have a top 4 hand from what I've seen, though he could be getting tricky and hoping the SB pushes.
We have a short stack in the SB, who could be getting desperate. There COULD be a raise by the button, but he's a TAG. No reads on the BB.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t400 (7 handed)
internettexasholdem.com
MP1 (t8620)
MP2 (t15668)
Hero (t8661)
Button (t21650)
SB (t3300)
BB (t9530)
UTG (t7300)
Preflop: 2 folds, MP2 calls, Hero is CO with 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
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60/40 limp/fold
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you're spitting the weak tight advice rockin. i also think you're wrong with your interpretation of HOH.
with an M under 5 you need to call ANY push with ANY pocket pair. you want to have first in/fold equity on your side when you push with Q2o or T8s. those types of hands are push or fold. a pocket pair is a solid holding and should be played as such.
in that particular hand. i think you can put in a normal raise there with an M of 11. if you get called you could push a non-ace flop.
i wouldn't fault you at all for pushing and taking the blinds. i prefer something more assertive than a call here because you'd be happy to take the blinds without a flop. if the SB pushes you call and hold up against his KJo or whatever. folding there is just to weak/tight for my taste. maybe i could fold it in EP... but in the CO?
the main thing is if you run around trying to avoid races you're going to give up a ton of equity by laying down the best hand far too often.