Champions of Poker

Hello,

I’m about to play a casino tournament with 60-70 players and with a starting $2000, in chips. Blinds will be 25/50 and actually will move up every after 15 minutes. I don’t know how I would be playing in case. Anything to share?

Another one, I want to ask your thoughts on how I played a certain hand. Blinds were 100/200. I had about $4000 in chips and with AA in late position. I then raised to $600. There was big blind who went all in with short stack, I remember about $300. A certain player then called. Flop came and was K,9,4 rainbow. The other player checked and so I placed a $600 bet. He folded and great as the pot went to me.

Now, although I actually won over the pot, I’m still wondering if I should have checked the flop and bet the turn instead. What’s your opinion? Also, I would always bet out with a drawing flop however with no chances for draws I may have invited a bet on the turn. Or if not maybe he could have seen weakness if I check after the flop.

Thanks and great site!

All the best,
Markie
Markie,

In a tournament with a fast blind structure, you will either want to loosen up your requirements to try and win a lot of pots early, or really push your big hands. If you play tight and do not pick up any big hands by about level 3 or so, you need to loosen up your starting hand requirements.

As far as your hand is concerned, I would have checked the flop and see if he would bet out. If he didn’t, then I would bet the turn. Of course, what you did had value too since you wanted to make the pot with the all-in player heads up.

Either play in this case would be good in my opinion.