02-13-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

Don't donk your chips away with crap hands

Question:

In a no-limit game I'm short stack and getting so-so cards. Everyone folds pre-flop except the person who has the big stack. I had noticed him playing a bit loose and he has won hands by causing others to drop because of aggressive betting. First bet is the minimum BB. I had a 7h Js. The two of us see the flop and it shows three more hearts. I have one to a flush, but a small flush. My opponent bets first, $2,000. I decided to call him all-in with $3,200 because I had two shots for a flush and my judgment of his hand based on prior betting was that he had a paid, not necessarily a big pair. He sees the all-in and I'm right. He had a King in hand and one on the flop. I bet because with only two of us and a large bet I saw a way with only one player against me to really improve my chip situation. I never did get that flush. I left the game feeling good about that bet and no regrets. Was I right?

Thank you.
Ed Pinto

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Answer:

Hi Ed

It's hard to answer your question since you've left out some information. I don't know whether it is a cash game or a tournament hand you describe, but guess it's a tournament hand. If not, you are playing with very high stakes. The one piece of information I miss the most is what blind level you're at, since that often dictates what you should do with your hands.

I guess that the blinds are fairly high because you are willing to risk your tournament life with a mediocre holding and it seems like you "need" to double up. With that in mind, I don't like that you play J7 off suit in the first place, especially not that you decide to call with it. If you are short stacked in a tournament, you want to be the aggressor. If you need to play "any two cards", you want to leave your opponents with the tough decisions.

Your opponent puts in a bet of 2,000 on the flop. I don't know the pot size but I guess that it is around the size of the bet. When you decide to put him all in you have to know that your opponent is going to call. Maybe it's around 6,000 in the pot, and your opponent only has to pay an additional 1,200 to see the hand to showdown. He will call you with any heart or any pair. No doubt.

When your opponent bets on the flop you must suspect that he has a pair or a flush draw, and either way he probably has you beat. Your All-in is therefore not too clever. But you biggest mistake was made pre-flop though.

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