Post and Fold or Check/Fold Any-Problem??

[jwrussell]

Hi all. First post of a new topic here, so forgive me if this has been covered. I did look around and didn't find anything on this particular subject. I know there are plenty of rants about online poker, but personaly I find it enjoyable and have not seen anything to make me believe I am constantly being cheated.
That being said, am I the only one that thinks something needs to be done about what I call the "Post and Fold" phenomenon in online tournaments? I was playing a tournament the other day (and this is just one example, happens quite a bit) and it was down to 5 people. I had a marginal chip lead and there were two other players who were in the 1500-3K range. Two other players were at <800 chips. Both were obviously Posting and Folding. The three of us commented on it and one of the players actually came back and played one hand before going on Post and Fold again. Point of the story, one of the Posters came in 2nd.

Is it just me or does this seem completly unfair? This happened to be a play money tourney, so no big deal, but what if it had been real money? Seems to me if you are obviously not playing for more than 3 or 4 rounds you should be picked up from the table in a tournament.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the input.

[ballbp]

I know exactly what you mean. I play single table tourneys all the time and it never fails that within five hands or less you'll see one or two people go to "post and fold". It's obvious what they're doing so I'm usually quick to blast them on the chat but most don't care. They know if they wait until it gets down to four or less they'll probably finish in the money and to some I guess finishing in the money means more than learning to play so it only hurts them in the long run but yes it's very annoying.

[schrek]

Interesting point that I've also not seen talked about here. I played a tourney yesterday and when there was 5 people left, there were 2 of them post and folding... obviously they clicked the button and left their computers because the three remaining people there (myself and two others) basically were chatting and we all knew what was going on. The three of us pretty much post and folded until the two p/f players were out (ha ha not in the top 3)... Then it was a battle.

Sometimes in single table tournaments I play (early on) as though i'm post and folding. But i'm not. I'm just waiting for the good cards, and going deep in the game. So beware of some people who LOOK like their post and folding. They may just be waiting the big cards, and when they get'em watch out.

Great topic.

[ballbp]

Yeah I know what you mean Shrek. I play very tight for the first half of the tourney and I've been accused of "post and fold" once before too. I'm referring to those that purposely click sit out and then come back later. At pokerroom.com their seat even has "AUTO" over it. Luckily they time-out and have to leave after a certain amount of time but the sneaky ones come back, play one hand, and then go back to "AUTO". It's just pretty cheap.

[schrek]

Yeah, my hand has to be pretty darn good to play in the first half of a 10 person tourney. Usually (in NL) there are 3 or 4 out in the first few hands just going all in. Those who do the post and fold method are (i find) the easiest to beat because you know what they are doing. Obviously if there are 4 of you left, (1,2, and 3 win money) and one of you is post and folding, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have more money than he does and then post and fold until he' s gone. It may force you to take 3rd place, but that may be the difference between doubling your entry fee, or loosing it alltogether.

I wonder if this activity happens in real casino's... They may just sit and fold the whole time? Anyone see this before in person? (where someone is just post and folding trying to stay in to the end?)

[nicthestick]

I play a LOT of sit and go's at UB, and unless the poker gods are being extremely nice to me, I rarely play more than 5 hands in the first 40 to 50. At that point, everyone has me pegged as a Rock, and I can start picking up blinds with garbage hands. It may look like I am posting and folding, but, in tournament play, the object is not to go broke, and the more ammo that you can save for the later rounds, the better off that you will be. In my last 4 sit-n-go's I finished 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st. and the 2nd was a river suckout.

[BrianGre]

I play a LOT of sit and go's at UB, and unless the poker gods are being extremely nice to me, I rarely play more than 5 hands in the first 40 to 50.

funny you mention that... I also play at UB and I've started watching my stats... Today I was playing a $10 SNG and after 34 hands I had only won 2 and had only played like 8 or so... However I had more than twice anyone else at the table..

One hand I had QQ and two others went all-in with AK...flop brings another Q and nothing else. SCHWING!!

the sad part to this story is that I ended up in 3rd as I got no more cards...

[nicthestick]

whats your screen name? i'll look for you. We can chat. Mine is, can you guess, nicthestick

[ScanX]

I play a LOT of sit and go's at UB, and unless the poker gods are being extremely nice to me, I rarely play more than 5 hands in the first 40 to 50.

funny you mention that... I also play at UB and I've started watching my stats... Today I was playing a $10 SNG and after 34 hands I had only won 2 and had only played like 8 or so... However I had more than twice anyone else at the table..

One hand I had QQ and two others went all-in with AK...flop brings another Q and nothing else. SCHWING!!

the sad part to this story is that I ended up in 3rd as I got no more cards... :(

a $10 sit&go with 9 participants at UB ?

how much do you win ending 3rd ? $18ish ?

[karasz]

i dont really have a problem with that, but they should at least be there, to do it...


would it make a difference if the guys were there playing and just post folding the whole time you played?

cuz its no different...

what i dont like is some people on auto go for like 50 minutes and some last a round at the table... i dont really understand it...


i only go on auto when i am not able to play anymore

[nicthestick]

1st is $50
2nd is $30
3rd is $20
10 person SNG's at UB.

[jwrussell]

Thanks for all of the replies. Please don't mis understand what I am saying. I'm not talking about playing tight, I understand that. It is the people who are on "Auto" as many of you have stated. Yes I suppose someone could sit a at a card room table and do the same, but it seems worse on the computer. Most people are not going to post and fold in a real tournament as a stategy to try and squeak into the money (I would imagine).
Just something that irks me I guess.

[Dave B]

Dont let it bother you, just take advantage of the dead money. And yes-people will do this in real tourneys too. Some wont even look at cards, or if it is at the end of an important satalite, they will through away AA KK or anything. It is part of the game.

[canvasbck]

One reason that I have seen for going on "auto" in a multitable (OK I have done it) . When cards arent falling, or the poker gods are raining Aces on you, you get that urge to "go tilt". This is not a bad time to sit out, go in another room and read a couple of pages from Sklanski.

[DASH7]

I've read these posts with some interest as I've always wondered why people do it and I've just incorporated them into any stratgedy as needed but never let them get to me. Until Sunday morning.
I was playing in the freeroll tourney at Poker Stars early Sunday morning for a little fun and NL practice(4000+ registered). The table I started at stayed intact with only 2 post and folders(p/f) and a few people coming and going as people busted out. Soon after the first break I noticed one of the p/f finally came online with about 600 TC left and would be blinded out the next time the blinds got to him. First hand dealt to him, he goes all in with one of the table leaders raising to one other player. Ends up head to head and the p/f wins a small side pot with garbage. Next hand p/f goes all in, head to head with same guy and wins again. Now he has more than I do(around 1500TC). Next hand-folds. Next hand-all in pre flop and draws out to a str8 and wins a good pot-he now has over 7000TC. I got moved soon after and busted out pretty quick after so I never saw how the p/f guy did nor did I really care. I noticed the guy that tangled with him the most ended up busting out a few places after me-I wonder how he felt.
Like I said, I don't let these guys get to me but this one really got under my skin for some reason so I just needed to vent a little.