table image

ocallagh

Scenario: Online MTT. ITM

The blinds are 200-400 and the average stack is 4k. You have 9k.

You have succesfully nicked about 2k in chips from the last 2 orbits from the following positions: 1 before the cut off, the cut off and button. Your image is very solid. Your opponents put you on the following range: AT+, 77+, KQs.

Shortie is on the BB this hand. He just lost a big pot and has 900 left. You get A2s in the cut off. Perfect to take the shorty on, and if you get a caller in addition to the BB you will probably get to check it down cheap enough.

The problem I have with raising with A2 here is what the table will think of it. My raising range now includes A2 :eek: And that might not be the worst of it.. For this reason should A2 go in the muck here? How important is my image with the blinds so high..?

califano

Yeah think the players should realise when they see your A2 that you were only targetting the short stack bb. Your image shouldnt be affected unless the button or SB feel annoyed having folded a better hand and that could stick in their mind.

cardshark202

No you should raise with A2 and if it gets shown down, when you get KK the next hand someone with AT will re-raise all in expecting you to have some rag ace.
And rounders, 99% of all poker players suffer from mental disabilities and therefore fail to take in such simple nuances such as targetting the shortstacks or whatever.

DeVore

Only read the subject line but this should do you:


DeV.

jimbling

ocallagh wrote:

The problem I have with raising with A2 here is what the table will think of it. My raising range now includes A2 :eek: And that might not be the worst of it.. For this reason should A2 go in the muck here? How important is my image with the blinds so high..?

table image is a relative thing i guess.......if you usually riase with A2 trying to steal, then you should try not to tell them. but if your range doesn't generally contain A2 :eek: then it should help you to show these hands at times.
I presume its a full table.... if so I would much prefer to have the image of a rock though.

Lafortezza

If it's ITM of an MTT its probably near enough the late stages. So time wise and hand wise there's not going to be a huge amount of play left.
Unless you think you can fold this and continue to rob the table 'blind' then I'd raise.

ocallagh

cheers for the comments lads.
i just think (and even in live MTTs too..) that at this stage of a tournament you must have respect at the table. Half the time you're begging not to get called or raised... 3 or 4 raises every 2 orbits is about right I think. I've noticed recently though how hands like A2 above have totally ruined my image and trying to get away with even one positional steal gets that bit tougher..