When you get near the end of a poker tournament, players often start to talk deals to chop the purse or cut-in the would-be bubble losers by taking money off the first place prize.
I've taken lately to starting these conversations, especially if I'm short stacked. I'd much rather go home with a win in my pocket then come all that way and have to leave empty-handed on the bubble.
So today I was short stacked and starting to sell the deal offers with six players left (when top 3 would normally be paid). The chip leader wasn't having it. He had about 10 times the chip count I had, and he was looking pretty good to go all the way. All I could say was....you know "anything can happen....". But no dice.
So we played on....
Knowing that I wasn't going to get a deal...I had to play more aggressive. I pushed all-in with K-Q suited, and the chip leader called me with A-4. I won when I paired my King.
A couple minutes later, he went all-in, and I called with pocket 9's. He turned over A-6 and I won again.
So I doubled up against the chip leader twice in a row and now I had about as many chips as him. Meanwhile a couple other players had been knocked out and we were down to 4.
NOW he was willing to talk deals! Again the negotiator, I offered a deal for the top 3 chip holders to each take about 30% of the purse, and the lone short stack the other 10%. Deal accepted. Everyone happy.
Every time I play poker, the session can usually be summarized with the story of one or two interesting hands. I tell those stories here. Advice and comments from readers are encouraged.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Queens laid down
An interesting decision came up for me today at the Palace...twice!
Once right before the final table, and once a little later while at the final table, I was dealt pocket Queens in late position. Normally a very good hand (and position) and at this point in the tournament it's one I would go all in with.
But the first time, there was an all-in and a call in front of me. The amount bet would have put me all in as well. With two bettors in front of me thinking they had good hands, I was less confident about my Queens. I didn't want to get sucked out by a guy with a solo ace or king. So I folded.
The first time this happened, the original bettor turned over a bluff and the caller turned over a K-Q. Sure enough, a King came on the board and I would have lost. When I told the table what I did, everyone thought I was crazy, especially the winner who didn't get my chips!
Then a while later it happened again! This time, there were THREE all-ins in front of me with my Queens. Again, I figured there had to be some higher cards out there and I didn't want to face them, so I folded. Two of the all-ins turned over an Ace with a middle kicker (10, J, or something like that), and another guy turned over pocket Kings!
His King's held up, and again I breathed a sigh of relief by having saved my chips.
I went on to chop the purse at the top 5 when I had second place in the chip count.
Once right before the final table, and once a little later while at the final table, I was dealt pocket Queens in late position. Normally a very good hand (and position) and at this point in the tournament it's one I would go all in with.
But the first time, there was an all-in and a call in front of me. The amount bet would have put me all in as well. With two bettors in front of me thinking they had good hands, I was less confident about my Queens. I didn't want to get sucked out by a guy with a solo ace or king. So I folded.
The first time this happened, the original bettor turned over a bluff and the caller turned over a K-Q. Sure enough, a King came on the board and I would have lost. When I told the table what I did, everyone thought I was crazy, especially the winner who didn't get my chips!
Then a while later it happened again! This time, there were THREE all-ins in front of me with my Queens. Again, I figured there had to be some higher cards out there and I didn't want to face them, so I folded. Two of the all-ins turned over an Ace with a middle kicker (10, J, or something like that), and another guy turned over pocket Kings!
His King's held up, and again I breathed a sigh of relief by having saved my chips.
I went on to chop the purse at the top 5 when I had second place in the chip count.
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