Hand Advice Post

well, in all honesty, you need to bet more than 95 on the flop.

I would have at least pot sized bet the flop and tried to end the hand right there.  If he calls a pot sized bet on the flop and I'm looking to up my aggression even more on the turn.

I'm not so sure that assigning him to a weak A was the right call for you and perhaps that is where you most went wrong in the hand.  Ranging your opponent can be tough but the button in this case looks like he was trying to use his position to steal the pot from you and in the end, you let him get there by not being aggressive enough.

(note - I am not so much a STT player anymore but when I did play them and I was the preflop aggressor, I usually kept up with my aggression.  I could be wrong though.)

DanDaw:

all stacks are 1500, blinds 10 and 20
i get A8 suited in the cut off and raise to 60.
button calls big blind calls.

FIRST RULE of low buy-in SnG: Let the phish knock each other out or go broke.

SECOND RULE of low buy-in SnG: Don't go broke BLUFFING.

Pre-flop there is 30 in the pot.  It's not worth stealing to risk your chips.  Fold pre-flop.

After you make it to the flop, you have two choices when it looks dangerous.  Check-fold to action.  You make a PSB (180).  If you get called, you shutdown because you only have one pair with crappy kicker.  On the river, you can't beat anything. Check-Fold.

This should be, if nothing else, a good learning experience.

1. Don't play the stealing game when the pots aren't worth much. Wait until the antes kick in or you're down to 4 or 5 players and your target is folding to make the money.

2. Be more cautious post flop, with one pair weak kicker hands. 

3. Don't go broke bluffing when you shouldn't have played the hand. 

4. When you bet, think how your bet will look to the other player.  a. If you have a very strong hand and want to look weak, bet this way if you want to risk your tournament to a cheap draw out.  b. If you want to convey strength, bet like you have a hand and want a call; 3/4 PSB. c. I said this earlier, "don't bluff."  Weak players will call you with a lot of hands.  They will not fold the NUTZ (unless they misclick).

5. BLUFFING is a very minor part of playing NLHE. 

6. BLUFFING only works with players that know how to fold.

One first fold this preflop.  I never play the first hand of a tourney unless I have a monster, but thats just me. 

Two not trying to sound like a prick but you asked the question.  Did you play this hand that badly............... YES.  I mean you said your trying to represent at BEST 2 pair on a board that has 4 to a straight?  WHAT????

And in attempt to try and help you....... Fold this pre flop.



EDIT:  My fault I just saw the A10 on the trying to Rep part.  But don't even bother trying to Rep 2 pair on a 4 to a straight bored.

I think this list of rules is very good, except for #5.  I think maybe you phrased it wrong, but to say that 'bluffing is a very minor part of playing NLHE' is very untrue.

Maybe you meant to say, kamakaze all-in bluffs with nothing but A high is a very minor part of NLHE.

thanks for all the advice guys :) it all helps!
ill take everything into consideration for next time.
i raelly think my 2 biggest mistakes were pre flop and flop. more agression next time, or just dont play at all

the only way to defend my pre flop action is that fact that it was 6 handed, i cant remember if i mentioned this, and i dont think A8 suited is so bad when its folded to me in the cut off? advice on this welcome also :)

To keep it simple. Two comments:

1) Your open w/A8s from the co is fine. Fold if you get repopped.
2) With top pair, weak kicker, on any coordinated board, bet the pot to discourage the draws or at least make them pay for peeling. If you get repopped, fold. If you get called, don't put any more chips in the middle.  

This is a SNG not a tourney.  Fold A8 preflop, conserve chips for the bubble, or for like 50/100 or 100/200 so the blinds are actually a significan portion of your stack.  In a tourney your goal is to accumulate chips so raising A8s would be fine.  In a sng your goal is to cash, so conserving chips is key.  Winning only becomes your goal once you've already assured yourself a top 3 finish.