Poker Perambulation

They are deceptive beasts and hard to skin.  According to lore, there are any number of ways to skin them.  I just read a diatribe about the play approaching the final table.  The thought was that people with an acceptable M didn't have to play as hard – call that dangerous if you like – in their situation.

 Well, I won't fault those who play it tighter/safer.  I'm not the one to criticize either side.  There is a lot of missing information when you just read a hand history – especially in late play. 

Many will wait until they have an M=10 before the open the aggression.  Harrington use that as a marker.  But, it is a marker open to interpretation.   Late play is prone toward power poker. There is usually a disparity between stacks.  Having an M=20 isn't that hot if it is half the average stack. 

The position described isn't uncommon.  Nor is it secure.   A couple of folds and you're in the soup.   When you consider that, 'sane' play loses a bit of luster.   You are at the point of making very hard decision with almost every round.  Some go with survival and prayer; others move the hard decision to the next guy with aggressive play while they still have a stack that calls for respect.

Over the years, I been more unhappy with my play when it is protective to a fault.  Trying to hang around for the next little increase in income may make sense to many.  But, it isn't always the optimal move.  Sadly, there may not be an optimal move.  That translates to even watching noted players do some strange things.  They may slow play a weaker hand that they figure is ahead.  Often it is and often it gets run down.   That's the other end of what the guy's rant was about but the circumstances were there.

A decent stack that is well below the average stack is train looking for a spot to wreck.  If you blindly adhere to Harrington, you are doing something that Harrington doesn't do.   M is a great tool but it won't win the hand on its own.   So, I'd rather die as a carnivore than a grazer.  It a clean death with some dignity attached.  The hand history won't show that but it is there for those who look.

So, have your little diatribe.  And, if I'm lucky, I'll see you on my right in the next one.  The cards may beat me but I doubt you will.


ADDENDUM:
I've been playing a few of the 'Five' tournaments over on FT.  I got the points to thrown 5 points in their $5K addons that go off every 5 hours.  Played three and placed in one.   Nothing to write home about.  I was only unhappy with one of the three hands I went out on.   On that one I showed being pot committed against the button from the small blind and was ahead.  Could I have moved him by pushing harder?  I'll never know.  Today, I pushed a small pair against an AK and was happy until he rivered broadway.   I like that a lot more than the first one I described where I slow played my queens on the flop with a flush draw and saw the turn ace get bet. That was bad enough but how I got there was even weaker.  I contentedly let the cards determine my moves for too long.

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