1. That is how I like to play those tournaments- I play at least one a day on Full Tilt. Get up big early and see what happens- I normally just sit around after I get up to ~10,000 chips from 1500 until there are about 50 people left. That leaves me a little behind those other 50, but at least I haven't wasted two hours to finish 100/1800. Just try again tomorrow. I have never played longer than 10 minutes without making it at least another 40.

Posted at 8:54PM on Dec 27th 2006 by Russell Hailwood

2. I don't like moving with top and bottom pair -- simply because of the everpresent possibility of being counterfeited. If I do, I'll move on the turn -- your thoughts, Wil?

Posted at 8:20PM on Dec 27th 2006 by A.J.

3. "Would any of you guys have played it differently? I figure the right thing to do in a massive field turbo is put all your money in when you're reasonably sure you're ahead and you hope for the best."

I think the way you played it was totally fine, but I do play it a bit differently. First, I 100% agree that the right thing to do is get your money in good and hope for the best. I do this as soon and as often as possible in turbos.

"An EP limper min-bet, and was called in two places. I upped it to 450, figuring that one of these guys hit his king, or was on a flush draw, and would jam over the top of me, so I could jam back, and take a fairly decent hand to war heads-up."

In a turbo with this huge a field I don't up to 450, I jam right then and there. If I'm going to get called I only want one caller, not two. If I up it to 450 and a guy with a K calls, then the flush draw is usually going to call too because I've laid him a great price.

I jam the flop and am happy if either the K or flush draw calls, or neither. Top and bottom pair with draws on board is too vulnerable a hand for me to trap with mulitway (but I will absolutely do it HU). Plus, I start establishing my image as someone who likes to jam a lot, which will get me calls by weaker hands later.

"I just couldn't see how I was behind, unless I was against a set, but I've learned in these short stack things that you just can't be afraid of a set whenever someone overbets a not-that-scary board, right?"

In general, the not-that-scary boards are when I most fear a set when I'm getting lots of action. If there are no draws out and no one repped anything strong preflop then what else could they have besides a set? But, that's clearly not the case here with the flush draw out.

If there is a jam and caller in front of me, knowing nothing about my opponents (and in a non-turbo setting), I throw away my top and bottom pair. Having said that, it's a turbo so I lean toward calling anyway because everyone's crazy in turbos.

"Wouldn't a set want to get some action from someone who hit TP?" I don't know that we have enough information about our opponents at this point to assume they're going to slowplay a set. Sometimes I give people too much credit.

"And none of the preflop action indicated any premium hands, so ..." If the preflop action had indicated premium hands, you'd be in an even better spot. Your K5 vs aces, queens, jacks, or even AK would be better than vs a flush draw. The pf limping makes me think it's more of a set/flush draw type situation.

So, that's my 2 cents. Oh, and good to hear the chat was more enjoyable this time. I saw some of it the other day and it was pretty unpleasant.

Posted at 5:49PM on Dec 28th 2006 by CarolP

4. In thinking about this hand some more, another thing I may do here is just call behind on the flop, wait for a safe turn, and then jam. That way you keep the pot small, toss if a diamond turns or the board pairs, and charge the flush draw an incredibly hefty price if he still wants to draw after the turn bricks.

Posted at 7:04PM on Dec 28th 2006 by CarolP

5. Of course you made the right decision Wil your money went in when you had the best hand no need to think further about it.

Posted at 7:45PM on Dec 28th 2006 by Bastionkane

6. Carol, I think you were right the first time. but then again, I suck. In any case punching hard on the flop's really the only play better than what was done. Problem with calling the flop with that hand is it fairly fragile, if somebody else has hit something, realistically with top and bottom pair you don't want more cards to hit the table. In this case either of the remaining fives helped the hand, the last king soaks up a card but exposes you to a better FH, any other card was at best neutral, and there were a decent number that actively hurt; and if the board pairs, as it did, you've got a craptucular kicker. Better to take the money and run; punch hard enough to end the hand outright or at minimum get heads up.

Posted at 8:59PM on Dec 28th 2006 by junyo