Poker Perambulation

I don’t know how many times I’ve lied and said that. It is certainly far more than a couple.

It is the line we use when the bubble approaches. That’s a time that can get silly. You get an OK hand and put the other guy on a steal. The sage advice is this is the area you can steal in. But it is also a time when even the chip leader may not have that many big blinds. Even when you have the guy covered, you’re likely to lose and have a short stack.

 Yes, playing to win is a valid option. It is the option we’ve stood behind for several hours. So we’ve got a reasonable stack playing small ball or even taking the races offered with gusto. As the money approaches we reinforce our goal and sometimes overstate our case.

 The insurmountable fact is that if you plan to win, you must make the money. That’s why the title is a cop out. Yes, you can steal a bit here. We should. But, we should do it playing low ball poker. That’s difficult when the blind have reached the level associated with bubble play. So, it becomes a balancing act where we have multiple goals.

 Stack size is dictating our play as much as the kindness of the shuffle. A big pair from out of position is a flashing caution light when your stack can be covered by those following or a short stack lies in wait looking for a gambling hand. All this looms large where a raise can leave you pot committed with some stacks and have your life on the line with others.

 If you are looking for a pat play in this time frame, I am sorry. I don’t have one. We’re walking a mine field here. As the button revolves, the situation changes – often dramatically. One day we may have a stack that can survive the suckouts. The next time we’re more ready to gamble with our small stack. Either way, you need to be 100% aware of what holding are before and after. You can’t be Broomcorn’s Uncle. Neither can you be a table captain who is willing to give new life to a short stack. The latter can be worse than the former. Well, neither is optimal by a bunch.

 There’s more to think about as the bubble approaches or play goes to hand-for-hand. At the final table or moving up the payouts, we’re going to have to gamble. But, it is wrong to embrace that too early and end up quoting that old saw, “I play to win!”

 ADDENDUM:

 I liked Maxie’s latest taking the ladies to task.  No, it isn’t just rooting for the underdog.  She had a right to say it. She appears to be playing well enough to get by a bubble or three. And we all deserve a suckout or two instead of being the goat in one or a dozen.

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I’m going to a chiropractor with back problems. It isn’t a huge issue but it is an issue. It’s hard to sit and write at the moment. But, the guy seems to be helping a bit. So, look for me to return to more frequent blogs shortly.

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We’ve a local air show this weekend.  The last day and today while I am typing the Blue Angels are practicing.  Yesterday, they flew over the house at a couple of hundred feet.  It was the group of four and they were laid on their side as the passed.  Loud!  But, I’ll take the minor hearing loss to watch that precision.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm and is filed under Tournaments. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.