POTD #275 The Early Bird Gets to Play a Tough Four Handed Game
I punt, while most of the people playing have not yet registered and are in bed.
A common comment I get when I post a cash game hand is a version of “sit out preflop” and I get it. If you, the reader, are playing a cash game with Michael Addamo, Mikita Badziakouski, Wiktor Malinowski and Katya_18, the idea of sitting out preflop makes plenty of sense. It makes some sense for me as well. I was not playing in that game because I was excited about my massive edge, but because I wanted to keep my seat in case a VIP sat back in. In tournaments you can’t get up when a table is too tough, but you can late register if you don’t think you are winning in the current field.
However, there’s something else I’d like to talk about that whispers the pros don’t want you to know about (or at least don’t really talk about). Oftentimes I am seated at “tough tables” and I feel there are several spots at that table. You might think “why would you sit down at this table?” and I’m thinking “If I could play 300k hands of $50/100/$100 vs. this lineup every year, I’d be set.” Do you know who else is thinking this at times? My opponents. We might all be delusional, but especially in a rake-free game, someone is bound to be right. The idea that we are all equally skilled and breaking even and passing chips around is highly unlikely.
In today’s hand, we are looking at a 200bb deep blind vs. blind hand during Triton Vietnam. The tournament has begun, but is filling up slowly, and I am playing at a four-handed table with Jonathan Jaffe, Chris Brewer, and my opponent today, Kahle Burns. When I registered for the tournament, this was not necessarily the lineup I thought I was going to get, but I also believe I am winning at this table. I can’t speak for the other three, but I bet they do too. Having an edge versus your opponents doesn’t absolve you from making a mistake, as we will learn today, but my mindset advice is, if you’re at a tough table, you don’t need to act or play as if you’re the best player, but don’t be intimidated and play defensively. Someone is winning at even the toughest table. Why not you?
Triton Vietnam 2023 - Event #3 20,000 NLH 8-Handed - MYSTERY BOUNTY
(500/1k/1k) (SB/BB/BBA)
It folds to Kahle Burns (195k) in the SB who calls, I (198k) make it 4bbs with Q♦️Q♠️, Kahle calls.
Flop (9k) K♥️9♦️8♥️: Kahle checks, I bet 6k, Kahle calls.
Turn (21k) 3♠️: Kahle checks, I check.
River (21k) 4♣️: Kahle checks, I bet 10.5k, Kahle makes it 44k, I call and lose to K♦️J♠️.
