Queens....ARGH!

Okay, so there was a big discussion recently in the Kansas City Star, and on kcpoker.org about QQ on the bubble in a tournament, up against two all in players. Of course, with so many hands seen in internet poker, it was only a matter of time before this exact situation hit me in person.

I was in a 10 player SNG with 4 players left. Top 3 are paid. We are all sitting on roughly the same amount of chips, and play had been pretty solid. I am in first position and I raise with QQ. The next 2 people to act go all in. Remembering all the discussions, I decided to push it all in and see if the Queens would hold up. First person to my left shows A10 suited. Next person shows AK. So I'm in good shape according to all the people who said to push the QQ here. That is until the Ace hit first thing on the flop, as I always said it most likely would. LOL!! So the player with AK devastated me and the A10 player. I ended up blinding out in 4th, with no money. So, faced with this decision again in the future, against 2 all in players, I'm going back to my original thinking that says fold the Queens and stay alive a bit longer.

Come On Down........

I've been playing a lot of MICRO limits lately, working on my NL game. I got so frustrated with Limit, which I was playing, under the mistaken belief that I'd risk less money, since the betting was limited. I mean, yes, I risked less, but I won less. Of course, you get drawn out on more often in limit. Well, at least in the low limits I was playing. There was just no way to keep anyone from drawing out. I'd flop a straight, or a set, or even a flush, and still lose the hand. I was playing $1 and $2 limit, buying in for $40, and just not enjoying myself at all. I tried loosening up a bit, and tried being even MORE aggressive with my raises, but nothing was improving. I kept running through my buy in most nights.

I have had some success at NL Sit N Go's, at the $5 level, but have steered clear of the NL cash games until now.

I dropped down to 2c / 5c NL, where I buy in for $3, and I found it's much easier to double my money. Then I occasionally play some 5c / 10c where I buy in for $6 and have managed to do well there also. I'm building a bankroll faster than I was when buying in to the $1/$2 limit games with $40.

I don't know if there is just a leak in my Limit game or I'm not doing something right in order to beat the small stakes Limit games, but for now, I'm leaving them behind and I'm going to play NL exclusively, see if I can build a nice bankroll, then gradually move up a bit. I think as long as I can remain patient and not move up too quickly, I should be just fine.

Personally, I'm not a person that HAS to play higher stakes to get a thrill. Believe me, I love taking down a nice $1 pot in the 5 cent game. In my mind, I like to pretend I'm playing $2/$5 and that I bought in for $300.00. NOW, if I can just continue to play the same way when I actually DO make it up to the $2/$5 level, I will do well.