NotRealNameNoSir
4 of a Kind
Alright party people, you know the drill, majority of my play and analysis is with newer players and is very read-based, BUT I came in to today thinking specifically about ICM. For those that don't know, ICM is the value of chips in a tournament, instead of $1 = $1, it tries to take into account the value of surviving as long as possible to make more money. Instead of just going for gold I wanted to push myself to make the correct decision with the information given.
I helped run a tournament, went very smoothly and really enjoyed it. 22 players, top 4 get paid and its a mixture of players ranging from bra-a-a-and new to very comfortable. No one is a real crusher, but some were much more comfortable than others.
Hero's profile: I was one of the only players no one else knew, I was tournament director as well as dedicated dealer for our table so that changes perspectives. Instead of just a younger aggro player, I came in thinking that position would allow me to bluff a little more and wanted to lean into the comfortable, competent facade (yes, facade, I'm clueless). Tournament was a social affair, they play lots of cash games but I expected that many of them wouldn't adjust well to tournaments especially after the rebuy period (2.5ish hours in).
I'm going to give a few scenarios, obviously they're from the same tournament but try to take each one as separate. All names are fake.
First hand:
30 minutes in, level 2, average stack is roughly 120 BB. Very very early, no bust outs.
Hero: kind of scatter brained but teaching everyone how to shuffle and cut for me while also running the computer/seating/buyins. I've taken a few pots and voluntarily showed a nut flush, I don't want them thinking that I'm bullying, just got lucky!
Jacklyn: Brand new to our table, just moved from the other room. She has a clutch with a bedazzled Ace of spades and big sunglasses on with her wine glass. Not sure what to expect but she's played before, peeking cards comfortably with one hand. Two hands previously I had reraised her on a monotone flop and she folded after clicking her tongue.
Tommy: Already suspicious of my preflop opens and jokingly rolls his eyes because when I'm button he's big blind. Comfortable with poker.
The rest don't matter for now.
Cards dealt out, 3 limps to hero
Hero on the button:
Going to blow past this, Hero raises to 2 BB. You can comment on my sizing but the limps mean little to nothing so far, they're expected. Could be anything, really, and I wanted to use my position early in the tournament. This is already exploitive, I had seen 2 of the 3 players fold to just a minraise and I just wanted to thin the herd. Had they been calling I would've been betting higher but I wanted to keep in their weird calls, oftentimes folding the flop when they miss and RARELY betting without a pair.
Jacklyn in SB: calls 2 BB after a quick tank. She was thinking a lot, might've been considering a raise, didn't seem like she was gonna fold.
Thomas: Calls quickly and rechecks his cards for longer than usual, hadn't seen him do that before, dunno.
Flop, 6 BB:
Jacklyn: Checks after a few seconds. Not too noticeable but definitely still some processing power, it wasn't like a distracted time, she was watching the cards come out and then lightly tapped table.
Thomas: Checks quickly, is done with the hand. Exhaled almost like a sigh, I don't think I'm getting much out of him.
Hero: ??
Second hand:
2 hours in, level 6ish, stacks now have larger rangers to them, roughly 20-60 BB. Been a few bust outs in the tournament, there is tourney pressure not many of the players have dealt with very often.
Hero's been dealing and running things comfortably and has shown lots of aggression, some warranted some not, and has an above average stack, covers everyone but one player not involved. Slow played a flopped straight until a reg shoved and the table discussed how I didn't bet for two streets for a good 5 minutes. Great advertising!
Richie: has a casino hat on and is one of the more comfortable players. He's tried to hero call a few times on the river when it wasn't needed and was surprised at the opponent's holdings.
Thomas: same from last time, he's got a bigger stack, picked off a bluff from me with middle pair, I made sure to compliment his play.
7 handed
UTG folds
Richie, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB. I read the raise but don't think he's sizing based on hand strength, maybe plays more cash and likes the 3, dunno.
HJ: Folds.
Hero, CO with
Hero: Think this is a call, I'm not overly worried about the players left to act and I like a one-gapper. Player to my left has his cards in his hand so I'll have position once we see a flop. I call.
Button folds
Thomas, SB: thoughtlessly calls. Not a monster.
BB Folds.
Flop, 10BB:
Thomas: Leads out for 2 BB. Honestly hadn't seen this before. Its not KK, capped at two pair. He's been eyeing me, this could be a, stop-the-goddamn-dealer-from-C-betting bet.
Richie: Calls after some thought, and immediately looks at me.
Hero: ??
Third Hand:
Final table! Near the bubble, 7 players left with 4 paid. I've got the big stack but a player two to my left has me covered, mostly out of an amazing streak of luck.
Hero: Do I start drinking bourbon now, or wait until later?
I helped run a tournament, went very smoothly and really enjoyed it. 22 players, top 4 get paid and its a mixture of players ranging from bra-a-a-and new to very comfortable. No one is a real crusher, but some were much more comfortable than others.
Hero's profile: I was one of the only players no one else knew, I was tournament director as well as dedicated dealer for our table so that changes perspectives. Instead of just a younger aggro player, I came in thinking that position would allow me to bluff a little more and wanted to lean into the comfortable, competent facade (yes, facade, I'm clueless). Tournament was a social affair, they play lots of cash games but I expected that many of them wouldn't adjust well to tournaments especially after the rebuy period (2.5ish hours in).
I'm going to give a few scenarios, obviously they're from the same tournament but try to take each one as separate. All names are fake.
First hand:
30 minutes in, level 2, average stack is roughly 120 BB. Very very early, no bust outs.
Hero: kind of scatter brained but teaching everyone how to shuffle and cut for me while also running the computer/seating/buyins. I've taken a few pots and voluntarily showed a nut flush, I don't want them thinking that I'm bullying, just got lucky!
Jacklyn: Brand new to our table, just moved from the other room. She has a clutch with a bedazzled Ace of spades and big sunglasses on with her wine glass. Not sure what to expect but she's played before, peeking cards comfortably with one hand. Two hands previously I had reraised her on a monotone flop and she folded after clicking her tongue.
Tommy: Already suspicious of my preflop opens and jokingly rolls his eyes because when I'm button he's big blind. Comfortable with poker.
The rest don't matter for now.
Cards dealt out, 3 limps to hero
Hero on the button:
Going to blow past this, Hero raises to 2 BB. You can comment on my sizing but the limps mean little to nothing so far, they're expected. Could be anything, really, and I wanted to use my position early in the tournament. This is already exploitive, I had seen 2 of the 3 players fold to just a minraise and I just wanted to thin the herd. Had they been calling I would've been betting higher but I wanted to keep in their weird calls, oftentimes folding the flop when they miss and RARELY betting without a pair.
Jacklyn in SB: calls 2 BB after a quick tank. She was thinking a lot, might've been considering a raise, didn't seem like she was gonna fold.
Thomas: Calls quickly and rechecks his cards for longer than usual, hadn't seen him do that before, dunno.
Flop, 6 BB:
Jacklyn: Checks after a few seconds. Not too noticeable but definitely still some processing power, it wasn't like a distracted time, she was watching the cards come out and then lightly tapped table.
Thomas: Checks quickly, is done with the hand. Exhaled almost like a sigh, I don't think I'm getting much out of him.
Hero: ??
Second hand:
2 hours in, level 6ish, stacks now have larger rangers to them, roughly 20-60 BB. Been a few bust outs in the tournament, there is tourney pressure not many of the players have dealt with very often.
Hero's been dealing and running things comfortably and has shown lots of aggression, some warranted some not, and has an above average stack, covers everyone but one player not involved. Slow played a flopped straight until a reg shoved and the table discussed how I didn't bet for two streets for a good 5 minutes. Great advertising!
Richie: has a casino hat on and is one of the more comfortable players. He's tried to hero call a few times on the river when it wasn't needed and was surprised at the opponent's holdings.
Thomas: same from last time, he's got a bigger stack, picked off a bluff from me with middle pair, I made sure to compliment his play.
7 handed
UTG folds
Richie, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB. I read the raise but don't think he's sizing based on hand strength, maybe plays more cash and likes the 3, dunno.
HJ: Folds.
Hero, CO with
Hero: Think this is a call, I'm not overly worried about the players left to act and I like a one-gapper. Player to my left has his cards in his hand so I'll have position once we see a flop. I call.
Button folds
Thomas, SB: thoughtlessly calls. Not a monster.
BB Folds.
Flop, 10BB:
Thomas: Leads out for 2 BB. Honestly hadn't seen this before. Its not KK, capped at two pair. He's been eyeing me, this could be a, stop-the-goddamn-dealer-from-C-betting bet.
Richie: Calls after some thought, and immediately looks at me.
Hero: ??
Third Hand:
Final table! Near the bubble, 7 players left with 4 paid. I've got the big stack but a player two to my left has me covered, mostly out of an amazing streak of luck.
Hero: Do I start drinking bourbon now, or wait until later?
. Feel like this donk is always a weak top pair that doesn’t want to see more cards. The call is more concerning imo. Probably getting the right price to call and try to hit. You can prob get SB to fold to aggression on turn and river, but the original raiser is a problem.
, with callhappy luckbox in the BB next to act.
for the crazed bluff lol, good call 
