Xmas Cracker HH requests - win a PokerStrategy video guest spot! (part 1: early stages)

Poker Stars $5.00+$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t20/t40 Blinds - 8 players

BTN: t3390 84.75 BBs
SB: t2940 73.50 BBs
BB: t2955 73.88 BBs
UTG: t2558 63.95 BBs
Hero (UTG+1): t3514 87.85 BBs
MP1: t2435 60.88 BBs
MP2: t2897 72.42 BBs
CO: t2925 73.12 BBs

Pre Flop: (t60) Hero is UTG+1 with J♦ K♦
1 fold, Hero raises to t100, 2 folds, CO calls t100, 2 folds, BB calls t60

Flop: (t320) J♥ 3♦ 2♦ (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t268, CO calls t268, BB raises to t840, Hero calls t572, CO calls t572

Turn: (t2840) 6♥ (3 players)
BB bets t1055, Hero raises to t2574 all in, CO folds, BB calls t960 all in

River: (t6870) 2♥ (2 players - 2 are all in)

This is an interesting hand and one I'm not sure I played well.

Here's a hand I played at partypoker. I'm defending this deep close to 90% of hands against a lateposition 2x steal with antes. On the river I chose to x/r and if villian would 3bet I would have to fold.

Party, $4.55 Buy-in (100/200 blinds, 20 ante) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: 17,850 (89.3 bb)
Hero (BB): 18,000 (90 bb)
UTG+1: 17,850 (89.3 bb)
UTG+2: 18,000 (90 bb)
MP1: 17,400 (87 bb)
MP2: 18,000 (90 bb)
MP3: 20,550 (102.8 bb)
CO: 18,000 (90 bb)
BTN: 16,350 (81.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8 9
5 folds, CO raises to 400, 2 folds, Hero calls 200

Flop: (1,080) 2 9 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets 455, Hero calls 455

Turn: (1,990) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

River: (1,990) A (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets 855, Hero raises to 2,277, CO calls 1,422

Results:

This isn't particularly early in the tournament but we are quite deep and this hand goes into the "owning" category. Playing with wide ranges blind vs blind can be tough as you need to play big pots with marginal holdings. This hand is a good example of hand strength vs range. When villian bets the river I start thinking the hand through again.

preflop: he opens probably 70% of hands
flop: he might be cbetting strong Ax for value but I'd think that he would often just c/c them. As the combinations of pocketpairs and connected pairs on this board is so small compared to the combinations of his offsuit and suited hands that want to make a stab at it calling with kq here is a must. He might even start 3barreling me if the turn comes K or Q.

turn: villian checks and I feel that betting here will only make worse hands to fold and better hands to call so I decide to c/b

River: This gets tricky... So what is he valuebetting here? Maybe A5,44,some tx that he wanted to c/c on the turn against my floats.... He might even be c/r:ing some trip dueces on the turn, but in general I feel that he will very often be frustrated and just wants this pot so bad that he just decides to take another stab at it. Further more villian polarizes his range with this big betsize so I can be pretty certain he doesnt have 66-99 here... Would he turn Ax into a bluff here? No i doubt that. So with the nut second highcard this is a relatively easy call.

Pacific, $3.55 Buy-in (4,000/8,000 blinds, 800 ante) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: 346,737 (43.3 bb)
Hero (BB): 325,070 (40.6 bb)
UTG: 215,925 (27 bb)
MP: 99,716 (12.5 bb)
CO: 177,818 (22.2 bb)
BTN: 182,122 (22.8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K Q
4 folds, SB raises to 18,000, Hero calls 10,000

Flop: (40,800) 3 2 2 (2 players)
SB bets 15,200, Hero calls 15,200

Turn: (71,200) T (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: (71,200) 4 (2 players)
SB bets 53,400, Hero calls 53,400

Results:

Thanks for these guys, some interesting spots for sure, looking forward to including them. The deeper one we'll likely look at in part two - a thread to come for part two which will be focused on mid-game / bubble play.

Keep 'em coming MTT-ers!

PKR, $50 Buy-in (150/300 blinds, 25 ante) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: 31,451 (104.8 bb)
BB: 17,125 (57.1 bb)
UTG: 20,089 (67 bb)
Hero (MP): 31,105 (103.7 bb)
CO: 8,716 (29.1 bb)
BTN: 23,759 (79.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 5 6
UTG raises to 600, Hero calls 600, 2 folds, SB calls 450, BB folds

Flop: (2,250) 6 9 J (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets 1,125, Hero calls 1,125, SB calls 1,125

Turn: (5,625) 5 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets 2,100, Hero calls 2,100, SB calls 2,100

River: (11,925) 7 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks

Results:

** Hand History for Game 1111111111 ** (IPoker)
Tourney Hand NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, December 07, 05:20:57 ET 2014
Table 1 500 Super ANTE MATTER 494695028 (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Seat 1: Hero ( 10418 ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 13, 3B: 3, AF: 2,5, Hands: 7667
Seat 2: Player2 ( 9735 ) - VPIP: 25, PFR: 13, 3B: 0, AF: 1,0, Hands: 8
Seat 3: Player3 ( 9766 ) - VPIP: 15, PFR: 10, 3B: 0, AF: 8,0, Hands: 78
Seat 4: Player4 ( 9756 ) - VPIP: 21, PFR: 18, 3B: 12, AF: 0,0, Hands: 34
Seat 5: Player5 ( 7130 ) - VPIP: 32, PFR: 9, 3B: 6, AF: 0,5, Hands: 34
Seat 6: Player6 ( 9675 ) - VPIP: 29, PFR: 9, 3B: 6, AF: 2,3, Hands: 34
Seat 8: Player8 ( 8784 ) - VPIP: 23, PFR: 4, 3B: 5, AF: 1,0, Hands: 47
Seat 9: Player9 ( 8758 ) - VPIP: 70, PFR: 39, 3B: 33, AF: 1,5, Hands: 33
Seat 10: Player10 ( 16171 ) - VPIP: 8, PFR: 2, 3B: 0, AF: 0,3, Hands: 48
Player10 posts ante of [10].
Hero posts ante of [10].
Player2 posts ante of [10].
Player3 posts ante of [10].
Player4 posts ante of [10].
Player5 posts ante of [10].
Player6 posts ante of [10].
Player8 posts ante of [10].
Player9 posts ante of [10].
Player10 posts small blind [50].
Hero posts big blind [100].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Qd Ad ]
Player2 folds
Player3 raises [200]
Player4 folds
Player5 calls [200]
Player6 folds
Player8 folds
Player9 raises [600]
Player10 folds
Hero calls [500]
Player3 calls [400]
Player5 calls [400]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jd, Qs, 7h ]
Hero bets [1000]
Player3 folds
Player5 folds
Player9 raises [2200]
Hero raises [8808]
Player9 calls [5948]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
** Dealing River ** [ 7s ]
Hero wins 1660 from main pot
Player9 wins 18836 from main pot
Player9 shows [Jh, 9h ]

** Hand History for Game 1111111111 ** (IPoker)
Tourney Hand NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, December 06, 04:44:54 ET 2014
Table 200 Six 494659438 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Hero ( 10970 ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 13, 3B: 3, AF: 2,5, Hands: 7667
Seat 3: Player3 ( 6537 ) - VPIP: 47, PFR: 17, 3B: 0, AF: 1,0, Hands: 64
Seat 5: Player5 ( 4400 ) - VPIP: 39, PFR: 13, 3B: 10, AF: 0,0, Hands: 23
Seat 6: Player6 ( 5000 ) - VPIP: 54, PFR: 8, 3B: 0, AF: 0,8, Hands: 13
Seat 8: Player8 ( 6720 ) - VPIP: 39, PFR: 27, 3B: 0, AF: 1,3, Hands: 33
Seat 10: Player10 ( 5000 ) - VPIP: 82, PFR: 18, 3B: 25, AF: 1,2, Hands: 22
Player3 posts small blind [50].
Player5 posts big blind [100].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Ad Ah ]
Player6 folds
Player8 folds
Player10 calls [100]
Hero raises [300]
Player3 folds
Player5 calls [200]
Player10 calls [200]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6d, Qd, 8d ]
Player5 checks
Player10 checks
Hero bets [525]
Player5 folds
Player10 folds
Hero wins 1475 from main pot

** Hand History for Game 1111111111 ** (IPoker)
Tourney Hand NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, December 04, 09:05:38 ET 2014
Table 1 000 SPACE 494604393 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( 13990 ) - VPIP: 28, PFR: 3, 3B: 0, AF: 2,2, Hands: 69
Seat 2: Player2 ( 16204 ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 15, 3B: 6, AF: 0,0, Hands: 142
Seat 3: Player3 ( 5994 ) - VPIP: 12, PFR: 5, 3B: 0, AF: 2,8, Hands: 143
Seat 4: Player4 ( 10495 ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 7, 3B: 0, AF: 1,0, Hands: 46
Seat 5: Player5 ( 9150 ) - VPIP: 22, PFR: 14, 3B: 7, AF: 0,0, Hands: 37
Seat 6: Player6 ( 8625 ) - VPIP: 26, PFR: 2, 3B: 2, AF: 1,3, Hands: 123
Seat 8: Hero ( 13505 ) - VPIP: 16, PFR: 13, 3B: 3, AF: 2,5, Hands: 7667
Seat 10: Player10 ( 8562 ) - VPIP: 28, PFR: 3, 3B: 0, AF: 2,2, Hands: 69
Player2 posts ante of [25].
Player3 posts ante of [25].
Player4 posts ante of [25].
Player5 posts ante of [25].
Player6 posts ante of [25].
Hero posts ante of [25].
Player10 posts ante of [25].
Player1 posts ante of [25].
Player2 posts small blind [100].
Player3 posts big blind [200].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Td Ad ]
Player4 folds
Player5 folds
Player6 folds
Hero raises [600]
Player10 folds
Player1 folds
Player2 raises [1486]
Player3 folds
Hero calls [986]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7h, Ks, Qd ]
Player2 bets [1072]
Hero calls [1072]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
Player2 bets [2858]
Hero calls [2858]
** Dealing River ** [ 4c ]
Player2 bets [8003]
Hero folds
Player2 wins 19435 from main pot

Poker Stars, $10 Buy-in (20/40 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: 4,930 (123.3 bb)
BB: 6,560 (164 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): 5,330 (133.3 bb)
UTG+2: 4,930 (123.3 bb)
MP1: 4,380 (109.5 bb)
MP2: 4,700 (117.5 bb)
MP3: 5,050 (126.3 bb)
CO: 7,007 (175.2 bb)
BTN: 2,960 (74 bb)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 2 2
Hero calls 40, 5 folds, BTN raises to 80, 2 folds, Hero calls 40

Flop: (220) 6 A 2 (2 players)
Hero bets 121, BTN calls 121

Turn: (462) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets 320, BTN calls 320

River: (1,102) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets 727, BTN raises to 1,454, Hero raises to 3,659, BTN calls 985 and is all-in

Results:

Poker Stars, $0.91 Buy-in (25/50 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools by CardRunners - Hand Details

MP2: 1,735 (34.7 bb)
MP3: 1,630 (32.6 bb)
CO: 2,325 (46.5 bb)
BTN: 2,765 (55.3 bb)
SB: 8,513 (170.3 bb)
Hero (BB): 4,530 (90.6 bb)
UTG+1: 2,885 (57.7 bb)
UTG+2: 1,603 (32.1 bb)
MP1: 1,110 (22.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q J
6 folds, BTN raises to 100, SB calls 75, Hero calls 50

Flop: (300) J T 9 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets 200, SB calls 200, Hero raises to 600, BTN raises to 1,000, SB folds, Hero raises to 4,430 and is all-in, BTN calls 1,665 and is all-in

Turn: (5,830) 2 (2 players, 2 are all-in)
River: (5,830) 7 (2 players, 2 are all-in)

I didn't calculate range but i thought in this situation my opponent could have many SD,FD without TP. I don't know how it should be look like my deduction in this situation. I don't remember any dynamic and history. Stats vpip/pfr/AFq 15/6/50 for 30 hands. Additional suggestion - this was tournament for 1$ so I saw a lot of sick action:)

looking back at this one I deffo misssed rvr value, probs scared of flush coming in, in-game, but not many scs in his range as its a 3B pot

Poker Stars, $10 Buy-in (75/150 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (SB): 8,684 (57.9 bb)
BB: 4,480 (29.9 bb)
UTG+1: 8,075 (53.8 bb)
UTG+2: 3,595 (24 bb)
MP1: 6,540 (43.6 bb)
MP2: 7,142 (47.6 bb)
MP3: 7,705 (51.4 bb)
CO: 5,026 (33.5 bb)
BTN: 4,750 (31.7 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q A
4 folds, MP3 raises to 300, 2 folds, Hero raises to 750, BB folds, MP3 calls 450

Flop: (1,650) 9 A 9 (2 players)
Hero bets 726, MP3 calls 726

Turn: (3,102) Q (2 players)
Hero bets 1,364, MP3 calls 1,364

River: (5,830) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks

Results:

Poker Stars, $1 Buy-in (25/50 blinds) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools by CardRunners - Hand Details

MP3: 5,695 (113.9 bb)
CO: 2,091 (41.8 bb)
BTN: 2,575 (51.5 bb)
SB: 7,743 (154.9 bb)
Hero (BB): 3,035 (60.7 bb)
UTG+1: 2,410 (48.2 bb)
UTG+2: 5,820 (116.4 bb)
MP1: 3,000 (60 bb)
MP2: 6,611 (132.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q Q
UTG+1 calls 50, 3 folds, MP3 raises to 5,695 and is all-in, CO calls 2,091 and is all-in, 4 folds

Flop: (4,307) 3 7 J (2 players, 2 are all-in)
Turn: (4,307) 2 (2 players, 2 are all-in)
River: (4,307) 4 (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Can we ever fold this cards? Big push looked like 99+,AK+, and snap call JJ+ ?

Thank you guys for the submissions, made for some great discussion Look out for thread #2/3 coming soon - on mid stages / bubble play!