Tight Poker

[tisko]

Firstly, as I have not made any "real" posts in this great forum so far because I have had nothing to say (but have simply read a lot here), I will say hi.

Hi!

Please note, that English is not my native language.

I'm playing in a (B&M) casino where they have every evening one MTT. I participate a few times in a week in the HE NL ones with lower buy-ins, there are usually 30-50 entrants, starting blinds are 10/20, levels last 20 min. (for a freezeout the first two levels last 30 min.). Starting stack depends. I have played about 15 of these and breaked-even so far (when including placing first in 39 participants some days ago ).

So, now to the point:


Yesterday there was a freezeout, 26 entrants, 5 places paid, 3000 in starting chips.

Two full tables of 9 players remaining, my table is somewhat tight, no bad nor very good players, most are just solid. I have been tight.
Blinds are 100/200, I have 2400 in chips.
I'm in an early-to-mid position, but not UTG (can't remember more accurately ). Folded to me, I pick up TT.

1) What would you do here?

Anyway, I decided to put in 700. The player to my left, who has just been transferred to my table went AI. He had me covered, I think he had 3000 or a little more chips. The rest of the table folds.

2a) What would you do and why?
2b) But if you remember this opponent being a solid player from some earlier tourney?
2c) But if you also think he thinks you are a tight player?
2d) But if you believe that AK is much more likely than other hands he might hold?
(Don't think about b and c too much.)

[darinvg]

Open push.
You have a very solid hand with 12 BB left. Put your opponent to a decision.
Depending on your position, you could even be pushing a hand like 88.

[sfustsh]

I agree with darin, this is a fine push.

If he's got AK (there's a long discussion about AK in another section here, look for it) you're just about 50% to win. Now is the time to gamble, because your opponents are building chips right now. If he's got overpair I'm afraid you're fucked!

You already have less than you started with 8 players eliminated, the average stack is around 4300 chips right now, if you want to place you can't be passive when you are so far behind.

As for b and c, neither of these really help your cause. If he's aware that you're tight he's only pushing with something good, and since he's solid you can probably count on him knowing you're tight here.

[laudur]

you are getting almost 5:3 pot odds and you actually want to go against an overpair. So just shove!

Cause ... it's time to accumulate.

[tisko]

As for b and c, neither of these really help your cause. If he's aware that you're tight he's only pushing with something good...

Well, that's what I thought - would these arguments want me to consider folding?

I thought that AK was highly likely and I would have loved to call against it, but the problem is that he had a lot of ways to hold an overpair against me and I would have been in a very bad shape. So actually I decided to fold. Later I thought it was too weak play, actually a mistake, that's why I wanted somebody to affirm it, thanks.

[sfustsh]

As for b and c, neither of these really help your cause. If he's aware that you're tight he's only pushing with something good...

Well, that's what I thought - would these arguments want me to consider folding?

I thought that AK was highly likely and I would have loved to call against it, but the problem is that he had a lot of ways to hold an overpair against me and I would have been in a very bad shape. So actually I decided to fold. Later I thought it was too weak play, actually a mistake, that's why I wanted somebody to affirm it, thanks. :)

No they help you in a sense because he only pushes with something good. Therefore there is less chance you're up against some garbage hand that might beat you by some fluke. You wouldn't be too mad if you didn't get called here, but you'd be real pissed if he turned over 67s or something and drew out on you. Also, you can eliminate potentially better hands that would have called if you weren't so tight.

I'm sure someone will dispute: "much better to double up!"

Sure but if you can avoid it, try to reduce your opponent's calling range by pushing AT him. You might be able to eliminate JJ or QQ and KQs and a bunch of Ax hands that would otherwise call. Obviously, AK, AA, KK is calling anyway.

I don't personally think table images and the like make a huge part in my decision to push this. There are much larger concerns that don't have to do with your opponent's call range (they don't change 'that' much based on your image).