<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>You’ve cursed them and told them to die when they suck out with J7 off suit.<SPAN> </SPAN>So what if you have pocket AA!!<SPAN> </SPAN>They hit a 7 on the flop and no matter how much you bet they will not fold.<SPAN> </SPAN>So you push them all in and BANG; J on the river.<SPAN> </SPAN>Now the truth is you need these types of players.<SPAN> </SPAN>Big stacks are built by terrible calls, so don’t get too bent out of shape when they suck out.<SPAN> </SPAN>Tell them to die and move on.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>When I’m at a table, I almost always look for the Donkey that is going to double me up.<SPAN> </SPAN>I plot out a strategy for how to play hands with this guy and try to execute my plan.<SPAN> </SPAN>There are always two key components in a Donkey Plan of Attack:</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
- <LI class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Patience:<SPAN> </SPAN>Bide your time and wait for the right hand.<SPAN> </SPAN>I may fold some big hands to a Donkey before catching him but sooner or later I will catch him.<SPAN> </SPAN>My only fear is someone else beats me to the punch.</SPAN></LI>
- <LI class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Never Bluff:<SPAN> </SPAN>Trying to bluff a Donkey is like spitting in the wind.<SPAN> </SPAN>You’re going to end up with a luggy on your nose.</SPAN></LI>
<SPAN>I was playing a $100 SnG on UB, and there was a guy playing very erratically who had built up a huge stack.<SPAN> </SPAN>My first thought was “there’s my Donkey,” but I was cautious.<SPAN> </SPAN>I had never played with this guy before, and he could be a good player laying a foundation for a big trap.<SPAN> </SPAN>He kept making huge raises to take blinds or when he had a few limpers in the hand.<SPAN> </SPAN>After everyone folded, he would show some marginal hand like AJ or A10.<SPAN> </SPAN>Like I said, he had a big stack and could be bullying the table and trying to trap later.<SPAN> </SPAN>After he called 2 All In bets with KQos and KJos, I went with my original impression that he was the table Donkey.<SPAN> </SPAN>He went from having ½ the chips at the table to an average stack in those 2 hands.<SPAN> </SPAN>Not to fear, a few suck outs later and he was right back to chip leader.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>We got down to the last 3 players and I took out number 3, making me the chip leader by a few thousand.<SPAN> </SPAN>So this guy starts going all in every hand, taking the blinds.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m letting him run all over me and just hope he keeps it up.<SPAN> </SPAN>Once he gets about even with me in chips, he slows down.<SPAN> </SPAN>I then pound him for a few hands and get him back down.<SPAN> </SPAN>This triggers the all in bets every hand again--after all it seemed to be working for him, so why not go back to the tried and true.<SPAN> </SPAN>I finally got the hand that always wins, pocket 5s!<SPAN> Knowing I had the unbeatable hand, I quickly called when h</SPAN>e moved all in.<SPAN> </SPAN>He flips his massive J
2 and the game is over when he can’t suck out again.</SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>My next Donkey story comes from a PS $150 MTT.<SPAN> </SPAN>This guy liked to limp into a hand, check all the way to the river and if no one bet, move all in.<SPAN> </SPAN>This was an easier guy to go up against-all I had to do is limp in the pot with him and wait for the nuts to hit.<SPAN> </SPAN>I limped with AA once and folded on the river because there was a possible flush and straight.<SPAN> </SPAN>It was doubtful he had either but rule #1 was echoing in my head, and I knew there would be a better spot.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>I didn’t have to wait long. Blinds are 15 – 30 and I called another limper with A
10 and the SB called.<SPAN> </SPAN>My Donkey is in the BB and decides to min raise to 60. Of course, everyone calls.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>Flop - </SPAN><SPAN>9
5 J
- Not a great flop for me</SPAN><SPAN>Everyone checks</SPAN>
<SPAN>TURN - K
– Suddenly I have lots of draws</SPAN><SPAN>RIVER - Q
– Boom, I have the nuts with the A high straight</SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>So the pot is only $240 at this point.<SPAN> </SPAN>SB checks and my Donkey in the BB does his normal massive over bet of $1110.<SPAN> </SPAN>To my surprise and delight the next player to act moves all in!<SPAN> </SPAN>Worst case I’m going to split the pot so of course I call his all in.<SPAN> </SPAN>The SB folds and in true Donkey fashion the BB calls off the other half of his stack even though he has a 4 card straight on the board, a re-raise all in and a caller. Doesn't take much to figure out you've got the worst hand.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>Donkey has J
9 – he hit 2 pair on the flop and figured it would hold</SPAN><SPAN>Other guy has 7
10 – bad timing for the sucker straight</SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>Normally I would have bet the turn with all those outs.<SPAN> </SPAN>But even if Donkey didn’t have a hand, he would have made a huge bet on the river, so why take a small pot when I can take down a huge one.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>I also want to point out that I’m not making fun of bad or inexperienced players.<SPAN> </SPAN>Everyone has to start somewhere, and we are all guilty of being a Donkey at some point.<SPAN> </SPAN>No doubt many of us are still the Donkeys for players at a higher level.</SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN> </SPAN>
<SPAN>---Troll</SPAN>
</READMORE>
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