Joined: Feb '13
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 47 (F)
Posts: 2372
So I just happened to be glancing through the party poker school, after clicking accidently, and they give a couple of scenarios.
Most are straight forward, but then there was this one, which I totally disagree with.
Anyone able to convince me they are right and I am wrong?
Q. It's the middle stage of a tournament, pre-flop, and you are one of two chip leaders at the table (he’s a bit ahead of you – the other players don’t even come close). He moves all-in, but you have two aces. Do you call or fold?
A. Again, this is obvious. You fold, even though you’ve got the best hand. This player is the only one who can send you home, so if you call, you're going to be out the tournament about 38% of the time. Better to pick off the less risky opponents first and go after the big money later.
Joined: Oct '08
Location: Germany
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 2025
hmmz instacall in my opinion lol, but hey im no pro..
btw i stop reading this pokerschool stuff long ago. i started playing really bad, so i took a break and played my personal style of poker again - and guess what, i started winning again this pokerschool thingy just confused me.
edit: i probably would fold if im close to the money, since he´s the only one who could kick me out. but in the middle of the tournament
Joined: May '08
Location: Germany
Age: 59 (M)
Posts: 6786
Folding aces preflop may be correct in a DON here and there, but in a normal tourney far away from the bubble? No way. And the odds for a knockout are doubious too. There seems to something wrong with that school
I suppose what they mean is that with only tiny stacks left you are guaranteed 1st or 2nd place, so why call for all your chips?
E.g. if 1st place pays $150 and 2nd place $100: Calling is 80% * $150 and 20% * $0 ===> EV is $120 Folding is 50% * $150 and 50% * $100 ===> EV is $125
If it really were 38% though folding would be a much better option: Calling is 62% * $150 and 38% * $0 ===> EV is $93 Folding is 50% * $150 and 50% * $100 ===> EV is $125
This is all assuming the tiny stacks won't play any role in the outcome...
Posted by IceQueenAce: Middle stage of a tournament
Yeah it's ludicrous. It only works if all players left in the tournament have insignificant stacks. Why even mention such an unlikely scenario? It teaches the wrong things IMO. Especially if no mention is made of ICM...
Joined: Sep '11
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Age: 41 (M)
Posts: 3048
Its very rare but its ok to fold on the bubble if you really really need to min cash for some reason. using good BR management you should never be in this spot and should be able to play your AA.
A. Again, this is obvious. You fold, even though you�ve got the best hand. This player is the only one who can send you home, so if you call, you're going to be out the tournament about 38% of the time. Better to pick off the less risky opponents first and go after the big money later.
I prefer to take the risk and say ... although pokerstars now and fulltilt two aces is likely to lose
strange all the same random number generator on PokerStars usually wins at Ollin chipleader
Joined: Nov '14
Location: Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of
Age: 43 (M)
Posts: 1169
Well is coz, u r up against a big stack, or a stack the covers you, so they automatically go, what happens if u lose, well u go home, unlike if u pushed allin against a stack thats 30% of your stack, then its alright, but to fold AA in to a one hand shove, i dont care if he covers me with his stack im calling every day of the year in the situation im only 81% favorite, i am fine with those odds
Joined: Mar '09
Location: Greece
Age: 47 (F)
Posts: 14136
It says middle stage of the tournament so i would have called. It is a chance to double your stack with the best hand there is. If this situation was in final table i would have folded at once, waiting for the smaller stacks to lose first
Joined: May '09
Location: Croatia
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 20506
well if you fold on AA,on what would you pay then?poker isnt more,what was before!everyting is different!maybe if you dont have lot of chips and 1,2 position before payout,then to consider and to miss that hand,but in middle of tournament,come on!