Setting a Mouse Trap: Tournament Holdem

Suck Outs

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 70% to Lose 22% and 8% of the time we will tie)

The mouse to my right was all in pre-flop for $10 I called. The flop Q-J-9, turn 4, river 10.

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 64% to Lose 36%)

The flop Q-4-6, turn 8, river 9. This was the same mouse as before. He ended up outlasting me in the $10 buy-in as I finished 3rd and he finished 2nd. ARGH!

Me vs. Mouse (Pre-flop Win 88% to Lose 12%)

I don’t really know what to say about this one. I raised 3 times the big blind before the flop from early position. The mouse called with his junk hand. The flop Q-10-4 of clubs and he leads out with I $5 bet. I knew that I got out-flopped, but I couldn’t maintain my composure and I pushed the rest of my chips in the pot. Just like that, I was out of the $20 buy-in.

Beats I Gave

ME vs. Elephant I guess this was a tuff beat if you can call it that (Pre-flop Win 60% to Lose 20% and 20% of the time we will tie)

I got out flopped when the Q2 hit 2 pair, but I was on the short-stack and had to move in; knowing that I was beat. Loa and behold, the 8 came on the river. It was a strange feeling to get lucky for a change.

ME vs. Lion (Pre-flop Win 48% to Lose 52%)

I had just completed the unsuccessful “Big Bluff” and had to move in on this hand anyway. I was in the big blind ($6.00) and only had $7.00 more in front of me.

Bluffs

ME vs. Lion Huge Pot – Unsuccessful

There were 3 players left and I was the chip leader. The blinds were at $2 and $4. I decided to make a move from the button with Q6 hearts. I made it $12 total. The Lion to my left called and the mouse folded. 1 down and 1 to go right…. WRONG! The flop came K-7-3. It went check - check. The turn came A. I bet out $12 (trying to represent an ace) he called. The river came 7. I thought my opponent was weak so I asked him how much he had left and then set him all-in. He thought a long time and I guess he had a pretty good read on me because he called! I immediately mucked my junk hand.

I want to say something about this hand. It was some good poker all the way around. I made some good bets and he made some great calls. I wasn’t unhappy about getting beat by this player because he didn’t call me just because he had a pair of sixes. He called me because he thought the pair of sixes was the best hand. If you don’t ever get your hand caught in the cookie jar, then you’re not playing good poker.

ME vs. Elephant ?? and Mouse ?? Big Pot –Successful

I raised $2 from first position with the intention of stealing a well built pot on the end. I knew the plan worked to perfection when I only had to weak players in on the turn. I bet $5 on the river and their cards beat my chips into the pot. I won about $16 on this pot.

I came out -$20 for the night but I was pretty happy with my play.