Quick Question on position?

#1 04-04-2008, 8:57 AM

I'm SB, 9 person SNG 100/200 blinds, and I hold something marginal that I would not call in early position. Lets say K5s.

1.) If the action is folded to me I usually call because it will be one on one.

2.) If almost everybody in front limps I call simply because of the pot odds now.

In which situation do I call? Both? What if half of the table limps?

The blinds example is just an example. But this is a problem I have all the time. I don't know whether to call or not.

Hope this makes sense!

#2 04-04-2008, 9:14 AM

If it's folded around to you in the SB and you have K5s you should either be raising or folding. Limping is probably your worst option in that spot.

If half the table limps you're getting like 10:1 on your money so a call makes sense but unless you hit the flop really hard (flush or 2 pair) you shouldn't be putting any more money in to the pot. If you can't get away from top pair with a weak kicker you probably shouldn't bother limping with the hand.

#3 04-04-2008, 9:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanyJ

If it's folded around to you in the SB and you have K5s you should either be raising or folding. Limping is probably your worst option in that spot.

What if there are only 3 people left and you are SB. The button folds. Do you call or raise?

I usually call or fold with any marginal hand and depending on the situation, might limp with a great hand. Should I raise or fold in this spot with a marginal hand? (K6o)

I feel like its a coin toss in that situation anyway so I might as well see a flop right?

#4 04-04-2008, 11:51 AM

Giving the blind level without the corresponding stack sizes is useless. This is such an "it depends" situations. What is your image, how do the other players plays (blind defenders, aggro post flop, etc ?), at what point are you in the tournament (itm? bubble?) and probably, most improtantly, as mentioned: WHAT ARE THE STACK SIZES?!

This is really an 'M' and/or ICM type problem that no one can answer for you without super specific information on the individual situation.

#5 04-04-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingme620

What if there are only 3 people left and you are SB. The button folds. Do you call or raise?
...It would depend on how the BB has been playing. If they've been playing pretty tight, you'd probably get them to fold with a raise. If the BB is loose and/or likes to protect their blinds with a call or raise, you might not want be raising we marginal hands unless its a hand than can beat their calling hand range. In a situation with an aggressive BB, I'll fold marginal hands instead of limping or raising. Keep in mind you'll be OoP during the hand as well. The only exception is if the BB is severe short-stack and could be pushing with ATC, then my hand range is much wider and i'll more likely raise them all in with marginal holdings. Also, your image is a big factor in this as well. Your raise would probably get a lot more respct if you're a tight player than if you're loose.

I usually call or fold with any marginal hand and depending on the situation, might limp with a great hand. Should I raise or fold in this spot with a marginal hand? (K6o)
...Depending on what the blinds are and the stack sizes, I really dont like limping in the SB and letting the BB see a free flop. If blinds are still small, I'll just complete because a) its not costing me much and b) pot is too small to steal. I'd rather fold a lot of SB hands early on, set up a tight image, and then steal from SB when blinds are high. With big hands, I'd rather raise than let BB see a free flop because if they flop a monster, their strength is so well hidden.

Example: Say you limp in with A10 and 10,5,7 and your opponent is holding 57. It might be very hard to get away from your hand with TPTK. At least with a raise, you're either guaranteed the pot right there or if they call/re-raise, you can put them on a range of hands and make your decision according to how they have been playing.

As for K6o, its an OK hand 3-handed. You can beat out of lot of possible holdings BB might have. To raise in the SB with this hand would depend completely on how BB as been playing their blinds so far. This is definitely a hand I'd raise against a tight player, but vs a player who is likely to call or come over the top, I'll just let it go. Again, the exception being the BB is short-stack and is playing ATC. K6o still beats out a number of hands and isnt that big of a dog vs Ax or K7 or higher.

I feel like its a coin toss in that situation anyway so I might as well see a flop right?
...I dont get what you by a coin-toss. Do you mean its a situation where you either hit the flop or you dont? If so, thats true. Limping in with marginal holdings in the SB when blinds are low is fine. You're usually getting great odds, its costing a small percentage of your stack, and you might flop a monster. However, when blinds are higher, you have to consider stack sizes compared to the blinds. Usually pots are too big to not try and steal with a raise (if you're holding a marginal-good hand). Even if you're getting great odds to limp, its still costing you a decent % of your stack to complete the SB. Instead of looking at it as "Only half a blind to call" look at it as "a half blind saved". Especially 3-handed where blinds go around so quickly, Im folding everything less than marginal and raising everything else.

above

#6 04-04-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingme620

What if there are only 3 people left and you are SB. The button folds. Do you call or raise?
...It would depend on how the BB has been playing. If they've been playing pretty tight, you'd probably get them to fold with a raise. If the BB is loose and/or likes to protect their blinds with a call or raise, you might not want be raising we marginal hands unless its a hand than can beat their calling hand range. In a situation with an aggressive BB, I'll fold marginal hands instead of limping or raising. Keep in mind you'll be OoP during the hand as well. The only exception is if the BB is severe short-stack and could be pushing with ATC, then my hand range is much wider and i'll more likely raise them all in with marginal holdings.

I usually call or fold with any marginal hand and depending on the situation, might limp with a great hand. Should I raise or fold in this spot with a marginal hand? (K6o)
...Depending on what the blinds are and the stack sizes, I really dont like limping in the SB and letting the BB see a free flop. If blinds are still small, I'll just complete because a) its not costing me much and b) pot is too small to steal. I'd rather fold a lot of SB hands early on, set up a tight image, and then steal from SB when blinds are high. With big hands, I'd rather raise than let BB see a free flop because if they flop a monster, their strength is so well hidden.

Example: Say you limp in with A10 and 10,5,7 and your opponent is holding 57. It might be very hard to get away from your hand with TPTK. At least with a raise, you're either guaranteed the pot right there or if they call/re-raise, you can put them on a range of hands and make your decision according to how they have been playing.

As for K6o, its an OK hand 3-handed. You can beat out of lot of possible holdings BB might have. To raise in the SB with this hand would depend completely on how BB as been playing their blinds so far. This is definitely a hand I'd raise against a tight player, but vs a player who is likely to call or come over the top, I'll just let it go. Again, the exception being the BB is short-stack and is playing ATC. K6o still beats out a number of hands and isnt that big of a dog vs Ax or K7 or higher.

I feel like its a coin toss in that situation anyway so I might as well see a flop right?
...I dont get what you by a coin-toss. Do you mean its a situation where you either hit the flop or you dont? If so, thats true. Limping in with marginal holdings in the SB when blinds are low is fine. You're usually getting great odds, its costing a small percentage of your stack, and you might flop a monster. However, when blinds are higher, you have to consider stack sizes compared to the blinds. Usually pots are too big to not try and steal with a raise (if you're holding a marginal-good hand). Even if you're getting great odds to limp, its still costing you a decent % of your stack to complete the SB. Instead of looking at it as "Only half a blind to call" look at it as "a half blind saved". Especially 3-handed, Im folding everything less than marginal.

above

#7 04-04-2008, 5:58 PM

K5 suited in a HU situation is not a bad hand, it's above average I believe in the top 40% or top 30% of all hands. Raising is a bit loose so I think calling is fine, folding is too tight since king high against just the BB is often the best hand. On the flop, if you flop either a king or a 5, bet. If you miss I don't like to bet in this spot since the BB will suspect a steal and often raise or float you with nothing to take the pot away later.

Here's a good general strategy if you're in the SB and it's folded to you. Fold any hand in the bottom 50% or so. So that means limp or raise with any ace, any king, most queens, any pocket pair, J10 and Jack 9. A lot of players will limp with ATC here but it's better to just fold any below average hand.

#8 04-04-2008, 6:29 PM

With K/5 in the SB, and a lot of limpers I'll usually fold. You're going to be behind most of the time, and it's easy to wind up with the second best two-pair (obviously top pair is almost worthless).

If it's folded to me on the SB, then I raise. I have a better than average hand and I want to get some value out of it. The worst thing you could do would be to just limp in, as you'll be out of position against a guy who could have any two cards.

#9 04-04-2008, 10:31 PM

OK that makes a lot of sense. Below, the blinds are 150,300 itm of a 9 person SNG.

So my only remaining question is about stack sizes. In a situation where I normally would fold and not raise with K5s (BB is loose and defends his blinds), should I raise anyway if he is less then say, 75% of my stack? (8k for me, 2k for him). Should I be raising enough for him to push all in, like around 4-5xBB?

What if the stack sizes are reversed?

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