Etiquette?

I've had a unique situation once where I had to leave when sitting at a final table heads up. (play money - would never leave cash game).

Because on-line sites don't let you chop, I just bet a few dollars short of my stack and folded to the opponent on the river. Yes, I know, it's chip dumping, but it didn't matter to me if I was first or second.

It just kills me when somebody says "I gotta go", pushes, then sucks out a win. More than once.

Just stand up and let the blinds eat your stack. It's pretty obvious when every hand it insta-folds. Min raise from the button and you will keep from giving them the walk.

Wow! It appears I opened a can of worms. To be honest, I didn't quite comprehend all the rules when I signed on. I'm learning them fast now. I appreciate all the input.

One thing I am learning is just like the people who write, there is a diversity of opinions. I have chosen to just be quiet and either play or just leave if necessary.

When I first started out, I had NO IDEA how long these games could last! BTW, I was asking only about freerolls. The few cash games I've played, I hang on for dear life. Usually because I for some reason fear losing that $1 more. It's funny since $1 is nothing when it comes to a lottery ticket!

Again, thank you all for the advice... now please, play nice. I didn't mean to start any trouble.

You didn't start any trouble, we like a good clean debate around here. There were no flames and such. Just different opinions taking opposite positions. No worries. Keep posting, you'll soon be mixed up in it all too.

Thanks JackD.

I need to go check out that link that was posted earlier about Phil Ivey! I still haven't seen that.

I have another question for you all. What is it that on final tables (again mostly freerolls) that people play bad cards with high bets? I have folded so many 'winners' when all is said & done because of that.

Am I missing something here, or am I just unlucky enough to end up on tables with worse newbies/donkeys than I?

I made it through Round 1 of a PAD tournament, and in round 2 it got just plain ugly. 2, 9 off-suite, all in, someone called, (not me I) and the person with 2-9 loses a huge stack of chips. Or the one who repeatedly bets and when the hands get shown you wonder why anyone would bet those! Inevitably they end up getting the hand on the 5th card! Arrrggghhh.

I understand the bluff, but come on! Is there a strategy here I am missing? I'm not referring to chip bullies either. They may have roughly the same amount as everyone else on the table. Strange game this poker... BUT I'm still enjoying it!

I just started reading Super System by Doyle. He talks about that. He says that if you put your opponent on a pair of Js and you can't beat and you push hard, than that's not aggressive - that's stupid (his words).

The more you bluff, the more your bluffs will be called. If you bluff, you DON'T want a call. So to successfully bluff, you need to get caught once or twice at a table, but don't overdue it.

In one of the mags that I read (Bluff, or All-In) a pro was asked by a reader what to do - she was playing and because she was a female, she was underestimated and she was always called. She could never bluff because she was always called. So she asked how to successfully bluff when in that situation. It was a simple answer - then don't bluff. If you are getting called anyway, than don't bluff. A bluff is best used to set up other players to call you later when you have a hand. If they are calling you anyway, then don't bluff.

When I bluff, I'll fire at a pot, and if I meet resistence, and I have NOTHING, I'll lay it down. Unless I'm just shortstacked and have a low M, I won't push w/ a 2-9 on a bluff. I may go all-in on a semi-bluff (have like pair of 10s...but it's top pair and a flush draw). Then I'll overbet the 10s knowing I have outs if called...and maybe the 10s will be enough on their own.

Anyway - thought it was relevent. Doyle noted the diff between playing stupid and aggressive.