PAULM03 Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 A question that's been bugging me for a while. Down to the last 5 in an STT, stacks are all fairly even (about 2000-2500) and blinds 100/200. In this situation everyone has tightened right up, getting anyone to call anything is a nightmare and showing any kind of aggression usually picks up the blinds. So the question is, how would you play a hand such as AK? IMO the blinds aren't really large enough to justify going all-in and taking the pot down pre-flop - that would be a waste of a good hand. Yet limping carries a big risk of getting taken down by someone with a far inferior hand. The other options I've thought of are a minimum raise (IMO screams monster and would be likely to result in everyone folding) or a 4xBB raise, but that doesn't really leave much room for continuation bets and you might aswell have gone all-in pre-flop and not run the risk of getting outdrawn. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant23 Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) If all the remaining players a playing tight, then like you say any big hands like this will need to meet another big 'un (although :hope not as big as yours) for you to get paid. I know I am less aggressive, but sometimes taking a risk by limping with AK can pay dividends, although you run the risk even if you hit an A or K of losing to Ace-rag or K-rag hitting 2 pr. I think it this is the fun time of an STT, but unless I felt the players and my image called for something slightly unconventional then I'd still recommend the pre-flop raise. I'd rather pick up blinds than lose to K3 suited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaF Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) Yes - agreed - a pre flop raise!!! The probability is that you miss the flop - which leaves you with a high card only, and great difficulty in calling the aggression of anyone else!!!! The great strength in AK is it's fold equity - pre flop, it's seldom hugely behind another hand (Only AA and to an extent KK), but is seldom hugely ahead. If you limp - AKo against 2 random hands is expected to get beat by one of them!!!! The blinds are 15% of your stack!!! So ARE worth winning!!! (though suspect what you mean is you'd like to win more!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULM03 Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) The great strength in AK is it's fold equity - pre flop, it's seldom hugely behind another hand (Only AA and to an extent KK), but is seldom hugely ahead. What is fold equity? How do I calculate it and how do I use it? The blinds are 15% of your stack!!! So ARE worth winning!!! (though suspect what you mean is you'd like to win more!!) You're right, they are worth winning but at this stage of the tourney IMO you really need to make a big hand count becuase you're never too far from being under real pressure with the blinds. Next level you go from around 10BB to 5BB and you're in trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULM03 Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) Just had an interesting read of an article specifically about AK and fold equity. I think I understand it but I'll go through it again later. It's here if anyone wants a look: http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/showarticle.php?a_id=14805&m_id=65565 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaF Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) What is fold equity? How do I calculate it and how do I use it? There are 2 ways to win a hand - one is by having the best hand at showdown - the other is by making your opponent fold to a bet. Your ability to make an opponent fold to a bet is your fold equity. Not sure of direct calculations, but the principal is that the fold equity makes overbets when first to act a more positive ev play than they would otherwise be. It is the crux to explaining the "gap" - that it takes a far better hand to call an all in than it does to make an all in. When two players have the same hand, the winner of the pot will usually be the first one to bet, because of the fold equity!!! You're right' date=' they are worth winning but at this stage of the tourney IMO you really need to make a big hand count becuase you're never too far from being under real pressure with the blinds. Next level you go from around 10BB to 5BB and you're in trouble.[/quote'] Most of the hands that will call you will be pairs!!! You are a slight dog to any pair. Picking up more than your fair share of blinds gives you a great chance of winning!!!! If you pick up one set of Blinds per circuit you are treading water - any more and you are making progress!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Intensity Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) Just had an interesting read of an article specifically about AK and fold equity. I think I understand it but I'll go through it again later. It's here if anyone wants a look: http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/showarticle...805&m_id=65565 Nice article:ok. Totally agree, I want to see all 5 cards. In an STT, I generally want to be all in with AK when my M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant23 Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) On the flip side of that I also read a good article on folding AK to an all in, but unfortunately I can't find it...:sad :sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapdash Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) Most of the hands that will call you will be pairs!!! You are a slight dog to any pair. Picking up more than your fair share of blinds gives you a great chance of winning!!!! If you pick up one set of Blinds per circuit you are treading water - any more and you are making progress!!! Yes, I think it's easy to underestimate the advantage of making a smallish profit. Against 72o, AK is only about a 2-1 favourite, so even if you could somehow manoeuvre yourself into being all-in for 2000-2500 chips against 72o, you'd still only win about 700-800 chips on average, compared to winning 300 chips if you win the blinds with no opposition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaF Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) On the flip side of that I also read a good article on folding AK to an all in' date=' but unfortunately I can't find it...:sad :sad[/quote'] Yes ...... obviously calling all in is totally different to going all in!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant23 Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) Yes ...... obviously calling all in is totally different to going all in!!!!Ah, but to me that was the point of the article, as I considered before that AK to be a good hand to call an all-in with, but the article in Poker Europa was an excellent one, because I read it in the bar of the casino, and layed down AQ, AJs, AK etc., with some difficulty, and I would have lost. That was the time I had a successful tourney. :ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapdash Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Re: Getting value in the later stages (STT) My problem is I understand all this fold equity, pot odds, implied odds, blah, blah stuff ... and I still lose. :cry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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