Looks like we could have 100+ playing with the excitement of BBT2 (I'm not sure who I have to pay for using that? Or is that only for BBTwo, or BBToo, or BBTue?). You can now check points at this link here: BBT2 Blogger Points .
I haven't been posting many hand histories lately or screen shots because I have been using Hawkette's laptop to play. She has an HP and any of you techies out there probably know, there is a big difference between HP and Dell. Needless to say, just posting screen shots is much more difficult on the HP and the hand histories are hard to convert, so I have just been NOT doing it.
I did get another laptop (not a new one) so I hope to have that up and running soon.
One question I have been pondering lately is when do you go all in pre-flop? I have started to think that to get from an average skill level to a very good skill level, you need to understand the +EV of pre-flop all ins. Of course, everyone will say: AA pre-flop is ok to go all in after you have been re-raised against. But is it always? What about 10 players left and the money kicks in at 7th place. You have a middle of field chip stack. Do you risk your tournament if someone has you covered and pushes all in? Obviously, reading your opponent comes into play, but is there a time you NEVER go all in? Is there a time you ALWAYS push with AA?
I'll even break it down into 3 different periods. Beginning of tournament, Middle to late rounds of tournament (including the bubble), and final table (or after bubble). Alan addresses here, a hand where he folded JJ to an all in, early in a tournament. I can definitely see that. But do you call with QQ? KK? AA? I posted recently about a hand that I did go all in with and lost just before the bubble. I had JJ and my opponent took me out with QQ. Was that a bad call on my part? Hindsight is, of course, 20/20. So I look back and think it was a bad call. But he could have been pushing on me with 99 and then it would look like a brilliant call. Fuel says here that "When you raise, get reraised and then the reraiser get rereraised you MUST fold all hands other than AA." Really? Always? I am not sure I agree with that.
In an effort to simplify this issue, I will post just three questions. You can answer each and then feel free to add explanations. All three questions will have to assume some things. You are playing in a no-rebuy NLHE tournament. Your opponent has you covered. You have an average chip stack (not short stacked). You are down to heads up in the betting and it is you folding (and your opponent wins the hand) or calling all in. Your opponent is semi-aggressive.
Question 1)In the first hour, 80% or more of the field is still playing, what hands will you call a bet putting you all in pre-flop?
Question 2)Getting close to the bubble, between 10% and 25% of the field is still playing, what hands will you call a bet putting you all in pre-flop?
Question 3)You are in the money, you have right at the average chip stack, what hands will you call a bet putting you all in pre-flop.
Thanks for posting on this and I will post my answers as well tomorrow or Friday.
Until then, stay patient....
