How to build chips in the middle levels of the $4 and $10 180's

[APipeDream]

I notice a lot of mid-level and pre-bubble questions for low-limit tourneys lately, so I figured I'd post something I find very profitable long-term. This is one thing I tend to do at a higher frequency in the 180s on Stars. I thought about it after the hand and figured I'd throw it out there:


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (9 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Hero (t3745)
BB (t4695)
UTG (t6055)
UTG+1 (t5270)
MP1 (t3935)
MP2 (t2440)
MP3 (t1225)
CO (t2195)
Button (t2755)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls t150, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP1 calls t150, MP2 calls t150, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, CO calls t150, Button calls t150, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t3745</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG folds, MP2 folds, Button calls t2605 (All-In).

Flop: (t7250) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

Turn: (t7250) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

River: (t7250) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: t7250


For those afraid of doing this with a 9 kicker, you have to think about the fact that you can pick up the blinds fairly easily in these spots, usually with no callers about 80% of the time. When called, I am usually in a good position, and many times called by someone who "just can't take me anymore" and decides to call with QJ, KQ, QT, small pair, etc. This was a bit earlier than I usually start this, but the table had been very tight and limpy the past couple orbits. This makes the most sense when the antes kick in (level 7: 100/200/25).

[Gorvacofin]

So your theory, in a nutshell, is: 'move all-in against bad players with a bad hand'? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[TroutMaskReplica]

no, I think it's more along the lines that TT+, AT+ probably didn't limp before him, so most of the time he adds ~25% to his stack (when he's not called), and when he is called he's mostly flipping at worst to double up. I like it.

[jgunnip]

This is a pretty standard move you need to have in your aresenal and in the right spots can be done with ATC. Picking up blinds and chips from weak limpers is a good way to build a stack mid x/180. Just be able to identify the players that'll call anyway with 33 and KTo

[Mingdu]

Yeah, you get called a lot with crap ... I like to do this with mid pocket pairs ...

[jgunnip]

The only thing about this hand that is meh is that you have 25bbs here. AT 20 its an easy push, 30 I'd prolly fold. I haven't played enough mtts to really get a good feel for the threshold where pushing here becomes a bad play. Thoughts?

[Sherman]

I do this with garbage sometimes. It works well in turbos too. In turbos though, you have to be careful because people will limp w/AA/KK. They almost never do in 180s.

Also, when you do get called by a better hand (say you are 60/40) it's always good for your image if you win.

[Nogatsira]

I do this with suited aces sometimes, suited connectors, 88+.

[mxp2004]

[ QUOTE ]
For those afraid of doing this with a 9 kicker, you have to think about the fact that you can pick up the blinds fairly easily in these spots, usually with no callers about 80% of the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any actual stats about how often this move goes uncalled? I would be really interested in seeing what you've found if tracked your success rate with Pokertracker or some other hand history software.

I would actually be surprised if, at these low stakes, this move resulted in a complete set of folds a high percentage of the time when there are more than one or two limpers (which is what makes the move worthwhile). It seems to me that play at 75/150 level is only marginally tighter than at the lower levels. In fact, it would be interesting to see if your stats bear out that the move has a greater success rate at levels 100/200 and above then at this level.

Of course,you may be using "80% of the time" as a figure of speech meaning "more often than not." If so, I think that's significant, too. With a decent size stack like the one in your post, I would be more inclined to make this move only if it has a high rate of success rather than subject this stack to a coin flip about half the time.

Good post. Nice strategy point for discussion.

[FishyMcFish]

What did you say your ID on Stars was? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]