a confidence crash, and I couldn't decide what to do

[luckystraights]

Sat in another Sit-N-Go, its 5 handed, and I'm not feeling my usual self, I find AJ, and end up timing out, poker brain left me for a moment and couldn't make a play, so just after insight on what the correct move should have been.

I'm in late position, with a short stack ahead who has started to push all-in, behind him a player who has started to become very aggressive when the pot is limped in, and will call almost any bet with mediocre hands.

The blinds where 75/150, and I would have liked to have raised here, but with two aggressive players behind me and being only 4th in chips I didn't want to get re-raised off my hand by one of the aggressive players and I wasn't sure if limping in this spot would be the right move, I ended up timing out.

How would you handle it?

Thanks

[luckystraights]

May as well add onto this post with another situation :

A few hands down the line, its still 5 handed, I'm now the short stack, but I'm pretty close to the next player above me.

I find A9 in position, with just over 10 BB's, I'm stuck with a similar dilemma as above, Its folded to me, but I have two aggressive players in the blinds to act behind me, and if I limp, the BB can almost be guaranteed to make a sizable raise, that I can't call, putting  me bellow the 10 BB threshold, a glance over at the  stats and the blinds are 100/200 in less then a minute, which would put me dangerously low on chips in what as rapidly become a very aggressive table, so I decide to push all-in.

As expected the BB makes the call for around 1/2 his stack with QJ.

I've been forced to make rather a lot of all-in's recently, sometimes the decision is clear cut, such as with KK, or AA, but others like this, I'm not sure if my play was correct. If the situation was heads-up (ignoring the SB) in this hand, and with chips stacks as they where I would probably push all-in, maybe 90% of the time or more, but here I'm unsure.

Thanks again xxx

[Squiggly]

You're playing Pokerstars, so current blind level is 75/150 meaning your M is around 7, but it will be 5 by next hand if you fold.

I'm pushing here with A9. But I'm curious as to what the more experienced players would do.

[luckystraights]

You're playing Pokerstars, so current blind level is 75/150 meaning your M is around 7, but it will be 5 by next hand if you fold.

I'm pushing here with A9. But I'm curious as to what the more experienced players would do.

I've noticed the random feature on PokerStove so I'm running A9 against two players with random cards, to see what my odds where, its taking forever though, it must be going through every combination, once its done, I'll try it with one player, with random cards, as the  SB was likely to fold to my push, but I new the BB wouldn't.

I keep forgetting to calculate my 'M' (only recently found out what it was), my decision is normally based on how many BB's I have, think this is a more accurate measure of when I need to push though, so will try and switch to this method in future.

[Langham]

First, if you're starting to feel like you're in a bad rut or "confidence crash," I would take a few days off from the tables to clear your head. I'm not sure how much you play, I only play a couple times a week at most, so I feel like I'm in a real bad run, or not playing well, I have no problem taking a week off to get some perspective.

That being said, in the first hand you described, I probably would've folded too, based on your analysis. If you think there's a chance of being re-raised, folding with AJ is not a bad choice. I can't tell you how many times I see someone limp in that situation and then fold to the all-in preflop bet. I think it's a good sign that you are trying to anticipate your opponents moves based on their behavior.

In the second hand, the situaiton has changed, and again I have no problem with your play to move all-in. When it's folded to you on the button, an ace is a statistical favorite against 2 random hands, which is what you're up against with the SB and BB.

Honestly, I'm not wild about the BB caling half his stack with QJ. To me, unless you're on a complete bluff, the best he can do is have 2 over cards and be in a race. But it's more likely he's behind, which he was.

A couple of things to remember:
1. For the most part, you will need a better hand to call an all-in with than to push all-in with. Now, the example you provided does not prove that point. But I would have been very happy when he turned over the QJ. You got your money in with the best hand. If he gets lucky, it happens.
2. This may or may not make you feel better, because winning is the ultimate goal, but if you consistenly get all your chips in the middle and you're the favorite, the odds will bear that out in the end. I know it's hard to do, but you must take the long view in these situations, or you will drive yourself crazy with every bad beat. In your other post, with the KK vs. AQ, you want the call, you're the favorite, if it doesn't end up going your way, you can take comfort in the fact that your play was sound, and in the long run, you will make money.
3. Try to start playing at least some cash games, even if it's at a lower limit than you're used to playing. You can really open you're game up, play a lot of hands that in SNGs you most likely are folding, and can really gain a lot of experience that you can take back to the tourneys.

Finally, at some point in a tourney, especially in a SNG, you're going to have to risk you're tourney life to advance into the money. It's just the way it is. If this was the point in the tourney where you needed to decide that, again, this was a pretty good spot.

[luckystraights]

Speaking of the A9 situation, I'm remembered of a recent push with JJ, where I agreed with advise that a limp there would be my best option, as I'm only getting called when I'm beat, or at best by AK, AKs.

Should I have put so much weight into the sylte of the players acting behind me in this case, which is largely why I pushed, knowing a limp would get raised, and a standard raise had a high chance of getting re-raised ?

[Martini]

Don't use random. Not because it isn't a good feature but because it's not realistic...and it takes forever too. Generally even aggro players have SOME semblance of range for hands the will go to the mat with such as any pair, any Ace, any two face cards, etc.

I've actually taken to using http://www.propokertools.com/simulator/simulationEditor.jsp more because I like their syntax better than PokerStove. For example, you can type in A* to denote any Ace, A*s for a suited Ace, X% for the top X % of hands, etc.

[luckystraights]

First, if you're starting to feel like you're in a bad rut or "confidence crash," I would take a few days off from the tables to clear your head. I'm not sure how much you play, I only play a couple times a week at most, so I feel like I'm in a real bad run, or not playing well, I have no problem taking a week off to get some perspective.

I play everyday, and find it close to impossible not to. In honesty, it was a thread on here, that affected me a bit, in the middle of a game, I should have kept my focus on the game instead of glancing at an update on one of my posts.

That being said, in the first hand you described, I probably would've folded too, based on your analysis. If you think there's a chance of being re-raised, folding with AJ is not a bad choice. I can't tell you how many times I see someone limp in that situation and then fold to the all-in preflop bet. I think it's a good sign that you are trying to anticipate your opponents moves based on their behavior.

Thank you, its something I feel I have to do, as there unpredictability upsets my game, so I try to counter it as best I can.

A couple of things to remember:
1. For the most part, you will need a better hand to call an all-in with than to push all-in with. Now, the example you provided does not prove that point. But I would have been very happy when he turned over the QJ. You got your money in with the best hand. If he gets lucky, it happens.

I deliberately left out the hand and the outcome, as the result doesn't matter and I didn't want it clouding the issue. Wether I won or lost, I'm not saying, I'm looking for feedback regardless.

Thanks

[luckystraights]

Don't use random. Not because it isn't a good feature but because it's not realistic...and it takes forever too. Generally even aggro players have SOME semblance of range for hands the will go to the mat with such as any pair, any Ace, any two face cards, etc.

I've actually taken to using http://www.propokertools.com/simulator/simulationEditor.jsp more because I like their syntax better than PokerStove. For example, you can type in A* to denote any Ace, A*s for a suited Ace, X% for the top X % of hands, etc.

Your right about it taking ages, its only at around 45% I'll give your suggestion a try

Thanks.

[NotFadeAway]

I'd really need more information to make a certain decision, but from what I read I would say to fold the AJ and shove the A9.

[luckystraights]

I'd really need more information to make a certain decision, but from what I read I would say to fold the AJ and shove the A9.

Now that I've gotten some discussion out of it, I'll post the hands :

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1801780

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1802206

After posting the A9 push hand, my opponents hands was suited, does that change anyones view on his call ?

Thanks for all the feedback

[luckystraights]

3. Try to start playing at least some cash games, even if it's at a lower limit than you're used to playing. You can really open you're game up, play a lot of hands that in SNGs you most likely are folding, and can really gain a lot of experience that you can take back to the tourneys.

I realized that yesterday, and sat in a few trying to gain some middle stage experience,  but I just don't seem to handle myself very well in cash games, tend to get bored easilly, and the grind  is usually long and slow.

I may sit in a few later though, as I need to work on my wekanesess as well as my strengths.

Thank.s

[Squiggly]

I'm sitting in the BB with QJ suited. My M is 12, but will be 9 next hand. Smallstack on the button goes all in. I'm thinking: "Desperation move by the small stack? Maybe. My hand? Alright, not great by any stretch. My M's? 9 is getting dangerous. Might be time to make a stand." I'm still not sure if I would call, but I'd at least be thinking about it.

[luckystraights]

I'm sitting in the BB with QJ suited. My M is 12, but will be 9 next hand. Smallstack on the button goes all in. I'm thinking: "Desperation move by the small stack? Maybe. My hand? Alright, not great by any stretch. My M's? 9 is getting dangerous. Might be time to make a stand." I'm still not sure if I would call, but I'd at least be thinking about it.

For 1/2 my chips in the same spot, I'd drop QJo everytime, QJs I'd think about it, and probably drop that too, KQs, might get a call though, would depend  on my opponent.

[Yankee]

1-800-bets-off

[NotFadeAway]

Good shove with the A9 and good laydown with the AJ (I know I already made a post, but that was before reading the hand history.)  Dude with QJ made a bad call but got away with it.  Not much that you can do about that.

[Langham]

The fact that the QJ was suited does not really increase the value of the hand. When you're trying to limp and see a cheap flop, suited connectors are valuable, yes. But calling off half your stack and using the fact that the cards are suited as the determing factor is not good poker.

Second, I understand the M factor argument, but again, the player is calling an all-in, not pushing in first. If the latter was the case, I wouldn't have a problem with the push. However, I think as the BB, you have to go beyond the M. The BB has to call 1400 to win 1700, and is risking over half his stack. IMO, I don't care what I think the button may have, it's not worth the call. In 2 hands I'll have position and can increase my stack by being aggressive, instead of reacting to aggression.

I think, and this is only an opinion, that the level you're playing at is also a "problem." Now, I'm not advocating moving up to a higher level SNG is you're bank roll can't handle it, but you may want to think about moving up to at least $2 SNGs and maybe $5. While you still do get wild plays at those levels, there are more players who are willing to lay hands down in certain situations. Again, just an idea.

I used to play $2 SNGs, now I play $6 on Absolute. Believe it or not, I've been more successful (profitable) at the $6, mainly because advanced thinking and play works better there.

Finally, regarding the cash games, they offer you the opportunity to make plays with hands that in SNGs you proabaly can't make. For example, last night, I jumped on and after folding every hand for 2 consecutive orbits, I made a standard raise in the CO with Q7o. After getting 2 callers, a continuation bet of a little more than half the pot got both players to fold after the flop. Now, I wouldn't even consider playiong Q7o in a SNG.

I'm providing this as an example of how you need to keep track of your table image. If you feel like you're getting bored - b/c your folding a lot of garbage - you can do something about that. Make a raise in late position and see how the table reacts. If they all fold, they've noticed you're playing very tight.

[luckystraights]

I think, and this is only an opinion, that the level you're playing at is also a "problem." Now, I'm not advocating moving up to a higher level SNG is you're bank roll can't handle it, but you may want to think about moving up to at least $2 SNGs and maybe $5. While you still do get wild plays at those levels, there are more players who are willing to lay hands down in certain situations. Again, just an idea.

I'm sure some people will find that funny  Just had a rather large debate about me doing just that.

For the time being though, I've switched focus to the cash games, as of yesterday really, to improve my play with mediocre holdings, etc and to build up a bit more experience, I've become a bit autonomous in the Sit-N-Go's, lately, I'm also find it easy to build up my bankroll, which will help me recover from any downswings from tournament play.

I've sat in two $5 Sit-n-Go's so far and found the table dynamic very different from the $1 goals, although there is still plenty of bad play to profit from.