Leaky Leaky Leak Leak?

[Sentinel]

This goes back to my comments in http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/forum/ ... inal-table where I bubbled despite being uber chip leader for most of the tourney.

To recap, it was a WPC MTT, 250 runners, top 10 go through. From the 50/100 level, I was the chip leader. Down to 27, I had 39k and my closest rival had just 24k.

Now, I knew I didn't need to get involved unnecessarily but I used my stack wisely to bully opponents around at choice times.

Down to 23, all was still good and 8 players had less than 10bb, so it was time to sit back and enjoy the fallout. At this point, 3 things happened. First, my hands dried up. Then the shorties started pushing pre flop and this, coupled with a lack of hands, added to the fact that I didn't need to win, just finish in the top ten, meant I couldn't push or fight back myself.

Down to 17 runners and the third thing happened - the shorties all doubled up and before you know it, not only was I 5th in chips but the stacks were closer in size and the blinds large to us all bar the top 2 stacks, putting me in push/fold mode whilst also making it all the more dangerous.

I am not concerned with the play that finished me off. I know it was not wise and that the guy who nailed me made a complete donkey call. What I am concerned about is my play leading up to my perilous position.

Was I right to not get involved unnecesarily? Should I have pushed more *before* people started getting desperate and pushing pre flop? Or was I just unlucky that the shorties all doubled up? Was it bad luck that my hands dried up right at the time I could have pushed myself and take advantage of desperate callers with marginal holdings?

To be honest, the situation crept up on me. One minute I had 35bb and was sitting pretty. But then the blinds change and suddenly I was cut to just 17. A few more foldings of junk and it's 13bbs etc etc.

I thought I played it right for the most part, my stack was healthy and players were dropping like flies. I know I miscalculated the push/fold phase and, in hindsight, I could have pressured more in the round prior to this to build a bigger stack. Yet in my defence, no one can legislate for all the short stacks doubling up.

However, please feel free to critique and point out any leaks.

On the bright side, I've made one of the WPC finals. Two woulda been nice though

[crack]

I didn't read your first post, but going on what you said I know what you are saying. I have had similar situations in sats when I think "Sweet just let a few of these shorties get knocked out and I am home and dry" then 10 minutes later without playing a hand I am one of the shorties.

I have very minimal experience with sats.

I make some kind of mental note in order to judge how comfortable I will be at the next say, two levels of blinds. If I think I may run into trouble and end up one of the shorties, I will take more risks like raising in position against bigger stacks and stacks around the same size as mine. They are usually happy to sit back and let players knock themselves out and these are the type of players you want to target.

This is the first time I have really explained it so apologies if it doesn't make sense.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

It's usually a good idea to be pretty aggressive when you have the chip lead, especially around significant bubble points. However, most players have gotten to the point where they have adopted the "standard" short stack plays and play much better as a whole than they used to. As a result, short stack tournaments have gotten harder, because most opponents will not deviate all that far from a correct push/fold strategy, which puts pressure even on the big stacks (after all, it cuts all fold equity, and thus any chip leverage).

Fact is, cards rule near the end of MTT's when no one has more than like 40 BB. There's a reason we call them "donkaments." It's not that there is no skill, it's simply that the skill set required tends to still rely on getting the better side of the deck, and not as many players are making fundamental mistakes when stacks are short (for instance, prior to Harrington, it was not usual to see a guy with 10 BB raise to 3x the blind and then fold to a reraise... now, even players that have never read HoH are aware that this is a bad play purely from osmosis).

I'd rather be aggressive and take a chance on going to the FT with a good chance to win versus creeping in with a mid-short stack and have to get lucky to move up the pay ladder. All the money is in the top 3 spots, and it's worth a bit of risk to try and get there.

[Sentinel]

Thx for the replies thus far though I'd like to point out to DC that all the prizes were the same, thus no reason to win, or even risk to win. Had there been a standard payout strucure, I wouldn't have slowed down. However, considering the circumstances, I didn't want to get involved with a 50/50, or even a 60/40, when there was no bigger prize for bigger stacks. A loss would cripple me and a win would seem superfluous as I already had a commanding lead.

Also, I have never seen it so crazy at the 23 to 11 runners stage in a standard, cash paying, MTT.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

Sorry, I misread the OP.

In satellites, it's pretty much the opposite of what I said, lol. You have to estimate your chances of going on with the chip stack you have, and play accordingly. There is really no reason to take the initiative in taking shorties out unless you really do have a ton of chips to spare. Survival is the only thing that matters, so there is no advantage to taking races. Big stack cooperation is a major factor, but not all players understand how to operate this properly.

[Sentinel]

Cheers DC. Seems like I had the right strategy after all. Just a combination of bad luck, I guess.

[crack]

Pfffff f*ck crack. :D

[Sentinel]

Soz Crack.

:D