My First Video

This is my first video. I am playing a $6.50 Turbo 9 man SNG. This is really just a test to see if I was able to upload correctly through megaupload.com. I used Snapz Pro X video software that I believe is designed specifically for mac computers. I am using the trial version, so I was not able to figure out how to add commentary, however I was able to add a small soundtrack for you guys to enjoy.
Hope this works!
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Any feedback on my horrendous play is welcome.

If this doesn't work then let me know!

agh, boo no commentary. DLing and will watch in a bit

downloading as well
did u cash in this one?

wow sick at the end
losing 10 10 to 6 6
the sound track wasnt bad
but what were u doing on the chat window?

Yea I didn't end up cashing, but this video was really just a test anyways.
The chat window stuff I have no clue. I was typing things in instead of the lack of commentary, but I don't think they were easily seen anyways.

Overall, I like your play. For example, I like your flat call in early play with the KQ off. No need to get crazy and raise there. There were, however, a few plays I disagreed with.

1. The play disliked the most was your raise from the big blind with the 77. Too often what happens is you get called, c-bet a flop with overs, and are called/re-raised. The reason for this is some players play tight passive poker in the early stages of STTs, even limping in with AK. Obviously, with the move you lost 1/3 of your stack, and that could have been easily avoided. With higher blinds this play could be smart, but not with such small blinds.

2. I wasn't certain about your push with the K8. Although it worked, there are other factors I would like to examine. The blinds were 60/120, making your M zone about 6, dangerously close to the red zone. Also another important consideration is the UTG limper. The old saying goes "fear the limper," so you cannot immediately discount his hand. However, given the situation with your M zone being so low, I find this push too be necessary because it has a high change of taking the pot down preflop. I agree with it. I just hoped you went through all that analysis before you pushed

3. Finally your push with the 10 9 towards the end was questionable. Although it was folded to you with an M of under 3, I would have folded here for a couple of reasons. The first reason being that there is no small blind. Those extra 200 chips make a huge difference At this stage, when you are short stacked you want your pushes to get as much respect as possible. Every push you make gives your future pushes less and less respect. Therefore I would fold and wait for a spot where there is 600 chips waiting for you in the middle. Also, another key factor that would lead to my folding would be the big blind. He is the hands-down chip leader, and can easily afford a call. By pushing you are giving him nearly 2/1 odds to call. Most decent players would make this call with a wide range of hands. However the fact that you have him pegged as a mouse could alter this fact. The tough part is the next big blind is short stacked, and nearly pot committed his next big blind. However, I still think waiting for the next hand to push would have been a better path. This is definitely arguable though.

Obviously, you can do nothing directly about the hand you got out on. However, if you didn't push the hand before, maybe he would have folded the sixes. Who knows???

Why would I want him to fold sixes to my hand?

Good question, lol. When you push with the 10s, you shouldn't want any callers because the 10s are very vulnerable. While you are dominating pocket 6s, you wouldn't want a hand like A8 sooted to call. I would much rather take the blinds.

Please explain your logic. I'd take TT vs. A8 (suited or not) any day. I'll take a double up 70% of the time.

When I push with the TT, I am looking to take down the blinds. If I am called, I have a hand that dominates most. With my style of play I like to avoid showdowns as much as possible. Even though TT is a clear favorite to win over most hands, it is still vulnerable (which is obvious, because our hero in the video was eliminated with them.) I just prefer getting all my money in on the river when I am certain I have the best hand, instead of preflop where its up to the poker gods. Obviously, you have to push TT in that spot though.

On the converse side of your double up 70 percent of the time logic, you are eliminated 30 percent of the time. If you have a couple of these flips in a STT, you won't be making the money as often as you would otherwise. I make the money in STTs about 60 percent of the time through showdown avoidance. Just last week I made the money in 8 STTs in a row.

The way you avoid showdowns is by playing EXTREMELY tight during the early stages of the tourney, establishing a very respectable table image. As the blinds get up, you can take advantage of this with your pushes, as they will get a great deal of respect.

Well I actually haven't watched the video yet (dling it now), but in the later stage of the tournament you definitely want to do this, especially if your stack is starting to dwindle. Most of the time a double up in chips is more than a double up in cash, so 30% of the time you get nothing (and you were short already, so it's possible you still get nothing), and a double up gives you most likely double your expected win before the hand started. Additionally you have 70% to more than double your expected cash and 30% to get 0. Theoretically this is +$ev if you have a 50-50 shot. Not sure what stage of the tourney this happened in and maybe I'll comment after I watch it, but the payout and stage of the tournament plays a huge part. For some parts you're right and some I would disagree.

I don't have a lot to add, being the novice I am. But I did learn something watching the video and reading the replies. Thanks, everyone.

I find myself following the tight play strategy of getting my money in towards the turn/river card when I am more confident I have the best hand. Pocket pairs, I learned early in my play, are dangerous to be too invested in at the preflop/flop stage.

There is, of course, the lesson learned of betting nothing pre/flop and having the big blind's 7 2 offsuit beat your pocket q's...

-Keebs212842