Card Dead

[madjek]

When do you start lowering your starting hand standards in a sit n go? Last couple, it seems I've gone the whole tournament with nothing but starting cards I would normally fold. At what pt. do you guys start playing less than optimal cards. And do you push trying to steal blinds, since you don't have a great hand or try to get lucky. For me, I'll wait as long as possible, then push when in position trying to stay alive and hope to get some cards finally, but haven't had much luck lately.

[tking888]

good question. i'd like to know the answer to this myself. since what i've been doing isn't working for me.

[PLAYFUL1]

OUCHHHHHHHHHHH says Playful....being card dead at the final table and shortstacked is diffentantly no fun and very frustrating ..especially playing great b4 the final table and just playing enuff not 2 bubble out b4 the payouts.. no explanation why this happens to the best of us???????????

[madjek]

I know it happens to us all!! My question is when do you start playing lesser hands if at all. 10 blinds, 8 blinds, 15 blinds? Personally I like to wait, usually probably too long, which makes it easier for bigger stacks to call. But it sit n go's , usually only 1 big stack and no one want so chance getting SS'ed. Just wanted your input.

[Alnoble]

If you are card dead for a while you need to make the most of your position. This is probally where the skill in poker tells more than anything. Anyone can win with the cards in their favour, it's winning with nothing that's hard.

If you are folding most hands you are building a tight image so a big raise with any cards will usually see every one fold to you and you collect the blinds and any antes. But be prepare to fold to any raise. If you can pick up enough blinds you should survive the dead spell.Not saying this is the best way to handle it but seen it happen.

If you get any suited cards close together in value i.e 6 9 always worth a try.

If you do nothing you will be left with the desperate all in which will almost always be called by a big stack with almost any cards and watch them hit and knock you out.

The trouble is if you do get the big hand and you have constantly folded you aren't going to get paid as everyone will know you hit.

[ND1991]

So I have been playing at Doyle's Room on Wednesday and have gotten to watch Mike Caro play A LOT. I know his name, and I am not sure how he stacks up against all poker players, but I can tell you he is pretty tight. I have also gotten to watch Todd Brunson, Hoyt Corkins, and Doyle Brunson.

I have been fortunate enough to be at Mike's table a few times and he is willing to talk and answer questions. So I asked him once his thought on this exact thing. I share this not because it is a great answer or the right answer but it definitely got me thinking.

He basically said he would rather blind out then go into a hand behind and have to hit. his thinking was you never know when you might get the AA hand and if you are that short, someone will try to take you out in this situation, especially if you are sitting at 8BB or less.

I commented this was against conventional wisdom, and he said he knew and that he didnt always adhere to it, but if you are truly that short, you are going to need to win more than just one all-in bet and he would rather take his chances with the best cards possible and hope for a two or three hand run.

I can tell you since he told me this, I have watched my MTT tournament bubble bursts drop and I have passed the cash line more often. And in so doing, I have learned/witnessed that after the bubble burst play gets loose with people making a run and I can advance 10, 20, sometimes 30 spots bleeding away. And there are times I hit the 2 hand or 3 hand run and "get back in it".

For me, the one thing I do know is around 8BB I start looking for a push hand, but I do not compromise my criteria as much as I use to.

[Assistanc3]

Blind structure really makes a difference in when I open my game.

The bigger buyin gives more starting chips and longer blind levels so you can hold off much longer. You also have more chips to make "plays".

I'm not a fan of waiting it out, your actually playing more a game of luck then skill. Not only are you waiting for a dominating hand but you also need someone to call your all-in and then you need it to hold up.

We all know AA is not 100% win and do you find it fun to fold for and hour and then get a bad beat to bust out of trny? There is a reason donkeys don't post bad beat stories, they create them.

If you make a stab at a pot averaging once an orbit you can tread water, then when you get a heater you can start climbing the rungs. Small buyins you can easily make the money running a rush.

Many of times (w/ +avg stack) holding Jacks or Queens I (min raise) open and get raised by short stack (8bb) to call. Why call? Why race a total of 10bb when I can fold and save 8bb and make my 2bb back with out racing.

He basically said he would rather blind out then go into a hand behind and have to hit

If you believe that, I have a great deal on *insert anything*
conventional wisdom tells me your not doing well now because your blinding out, but actually playing better cards by folding more bad ones. Which gives you more credit for when you do play a hand.