$5 Bubble problem ( newby alert !)

[Joerii]

Hey there ! This is the first hand I post, so please be gentle. I converted this hand manually because I havn't figured out yet how to convert hands from the Poker Office database to the 2+2 format. Advise on that would be greatly appreciated !

So here goes :

Pacific Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (5 handed)


UTG: (t1494)
SB: (t3314) (tight player)
BB Villain (t3140) (loose agressive player )
MP: Hero (t2072)
CO: (t1980) (tight player)

I think i have a tight agressive image.

Preflop: Hero is MP with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
UTG calls, Hero calls, CO folds, Sb calls, BB checks

Flop ( t200 )A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (4 players)
SB checks.
BB bets t50
UTG folds.
Hero raises t200
SB folds.
BB calls t150

Turn 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

BB checks.
Hero bets t400
BB calls t400

River 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

BB bets t450
Hero calls t450

[KPL]

This isn't the bubble,unless 4 people get paid. Bubble=ITM when the next player busts.

I'm not a big fan of limping here preflop, especially not with another limper ahead. On the flop, I usually just call the bet. If he's drawing to a flush, that's fine-with this many people in the pot, you may very well be behind already. You also have position, which is fine. Pot control is more important than protecting your hand in this spot. The same goes for the turn, just check behind.

Your image: I don't think that many people plying $5 SNGs will notice.

[TheBody]

Fold preflop, I see no reason to get involved with a trouble hand like ATo or even AJ with your chipstack and blindlevels. I agree with the above advice on post flop play, especially given the likelihood that the SB is likely to fold if he doesn't have anything. I'm guessing the villain had JT?

[djj6835]

[ QUOTE ]
Pacific Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugh, this is the worst part of this hand.

I wouldn't limp this preflop. The flop play is fine imo, but after I'm called I think I check behind on the turn and then call a reasonable river bet. Checking the turn keeps the pot a little smaller and can induce a bet on the river from an inferior hand that otherwise just folds.

[Kibby]

1) Not the bubble as already mentioned
2) Fold pre-flop like already mentioned

You fold this preflop as there is no need to push the action with 40BBs in early position with AT. You should be waiting for premium hands to raise with or pairs to limp with. Your goal at this point is to conserve your chips until the the blinds get larger (your's/other's chip stack has less then 10BBs in it) and you can use your knowledge of ICM to steal blinds and confuse the [censored] out of your opponents who aren't nearly as sauve as you.

[Joerii]

Thanks for the replies !

Indeed I was mistaken, this is not a bubble [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Sometimes it feels like a bubble though, when the other three players stick around for so long.

I guess I over estimated AT. I thought it would do ok 5 handed.

Djj6835, what do you mean by that comment ? Should i be playing SNG somewhere else ?

Kibby, you asume i have knowledge of ICM, but I don't think i do ! I know that you have to play much much more agressively, and that fold equity becomes very important when the blinds get high.

Can you guys suggest a way for me to learn ICM well without doing tons of math ?( cause i ain't used to countin much )

[djj6835]

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Djj6835, what do you mean by that comment ? Should i be playing SNG somewhere else ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol. I played at Pacific about three years ago and the software is horrible. Are you at least able to multitable now? Maybe they've improved it, but the only upside seemed to be the fact that they probably had the worst players of any of the sites.

[Sparta45]

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Can you guys suggest a way for me to learn ICM well without doing tons of math ?( cause i ain't used to countin much )

[/ QUOTE ]

Buy this SNGPT

[Kibby]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Can you guys suggest a way for me to learn ICM well without doing tons of math ?( cause i ain't used to countin much )

[/ QUOTE ]

Buy this SNGPT

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the tutorial is great. Math isn't needed so much as refined instinct through practice.

Another great place to look. The FAQ. That'll get you there.

[Joerii]

Just did ! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Lots of new stuff there, cool. What does ICM stand for though ? In SNGPT that abbreviation is never mentioned. He only discusses Nash Equilibrium ( NE )