More Poker Pub, mainly 8/27, maybe some 8/20

  Went to the Poker Pub tournament at Famous Sam's the past two Saturday's. Just the 6PM session. On the 20ieth I busted out about 1/2 way through. Last night I made it to the final table. I came in something like 4th or 5th. On my last hand, pocket 2's, it would have better to have folded to an all-in raise that turned out to be pocket 10's. On the plus side of that, I did take some time to think about what I might be up against and did I really want to risk all my chips with just pocket 2's. I expected they would have better cards than I did but was hoping they have just two overcards, such as, AK, AQ, AJ. On the negative side, I didn't really consider that it is better "to push" than "to call" in those situations, particularly since I had such a weak hand, though if had just been overcards, per Pokerstove I was a 53/47 underdog which is close to a toss-up.

  The live play experience is helpful even though the play is pretty loose. Most players want to play a hand and will limp in. I've not tried bluffing with a large raise in late position yet, though I have folded to such raises that have come from early or middle position.

  To make it to the end (final table) you have to play some not so great hands so your chip stack can keep up with the blinds. I've tended to limp pre-flop, along with other limpers, with hands that I hope will hit the flop and have raised to 2 BB's with more substantial hands. On the limps, and even with the more substantial hands, I still need to remember what my objective was in getting to see the flop in the first place and then fold or bet/RR as is necessary. All too often I still like to continue (if betting takes place) even when I've missed in hopes something will show up on the Turn or River; bad plan.

  I'm also trying to pay closer attention to the other players and what kind of hands they are playing. One player to my left showed a LOT of hands that showed he had the goods, so when he raised me, unless I had the nuts, I would fold. Although it was possible he was bluffing some of the time, he had shown he had the goods too often for me to doubt he didn't have them in those situations.

  I don't recall if I mentioned it before, but it looks like many of the same folks show up each week for the tournaments at Famous Sam's. Most of the players seem to know each other and at this time I'm the odd man out. With so many of the same players it makes for a fun, enjoyable event.