Scenario

[Gritz]

Freeroll.

Average stack 10-18k and Chips stacks sitting on 40k.

550 people left. Blinds are 400/800

I'm sitting on 7k with Ace/J suited in middle position.

Everyone ahead of me folded so I raise it up to 1.8k.

Everyone folds to the SB/BB with quick calls from both. 3 people total in the hand, me in position.

Flop comes 3/A/7. SB (17k in chips) bet's out strong with 2k, followed up by a quick call from BB. A call won't work, 2k is near half my stack at this point. I'm commited.

I move all in and see SB was sitting on Big Slick the entire hand. He ends up taking it down and I get knocked out finishing 550th or so.

If there is one obvious mistake I made, to me, it would be accepting the challenge from the big stack (17k) with his quick bet on the flop. I didn't even consider he may have A/K. I would expect a re-raise pre flop.

In a situation like that, instead of just raising 1.8k pre flop mid position w/ 7k chips, is it an all in? Is it just a call? In freerolls, do you find yourselves avoiding confrontations mid game with other chip stacks that can knock you out?

I have always had patience in poker, and more often then not will hang tight in a tournament for the first hour or so until I get some strong hands, hovering close to average. But it often ends in situations just like these.

Talkin' specifically freerolls, any tip's for an avg card player who makes it passed the first break with avg chips stacks? What's the strategy to make it late game, as those blinds start to really eat your stack?

[WOODS]

Not that its a mistake...but with the blinds at 400/800...calling or raising at all is in my mind a all chips "will" be committed bet.( with your stack size)

So if i am in the sb siting on big slick, I am thinking all the chips will go in , so why not just call. gonna be same result as a re raise..minus the possibility that you may fold to re-raise.


All so Gritz...welcome to the forum and tell your Ma Woodsy says hi

[Gritz]

If I just call in that situation there's a good chance there'd be limpers with junk that could connect. The small raise was just to intice a caller or two then an all in on the flop, no matter what hit.

I just don't know if it's wise to challenge the big stack who is already in the blind when I'm sitting that low on chips.

Thanks for the welcome and I'll tell her for sure, she misses you guys!

[WOODS]

i was thinking in the small blinds point of veiw..big slick

[Gritz]

Sorry, coffee hadn't quite kicked in when I read and posted this morning lol

I think you hit the nail on the head though, why would he re raise knowing that I will commit my chips on the flop. He get's to see a flop and possibly get away from his hand if he misses. Just another advantage of gaining chips quick before the first break. If there is one thing I hate it's to blind out even when I'm getting crap for cards, it's just not respectable to me.

Gotta gamble more if I find myself in those positions I suppose..