Why hello to the 5 people who read my blog. I once again apologize for the delay, but as you know poker players usually fall into one of two categories. Those that fastidiously play poker, and are forever trying to hone their craft, and those that are lazy. I shall not tell you which one I am, but only that I definately fit into one of those 2 categories.

When I first began blogging here at LPB, I gave detailed analysis of my tournaments. But have since realized that it is probably more interesting to talk about one particular aspect of tournament play each time I blog, and just give a brief overview of my week/month. This is what I'll do henceforth.

So today let me talk about the "squeeze play". Technically a squeeze play is this; You have a raiser, and one caller, and you are last or near to last person to act. It is usually best if the initial raiser is raising in late position, this makes the likelyhood that he has a big hand less. As last to act you make a big re-raise.

The reason that this is such a good play, and one you should definately be aware of and have in your arsenel is that,

Firstly: Your raise looks very strong, with a raiser and a caller in front of you, you are implying that you have a massive hand either AA or KK. This is further a god move if the initial raiser is in late position, his hand range is much wider and you can get him off intermediate hands like 88, AJ etc.

Secondly: There is a lot of "dead money" in the pot. "Dead money" refers to any money in the pot that is from a very tight passive player who will not claim it by raising, and also refers to blinds and ante's. It is money that you can earn without effort. With the squeeze play the dead money includes blinds and antes, and anyone who just flat calls the initial raiser. The reason that any caller is almost always dead money, is that 95% of the time have a medium sort of hand like 77, A10 and will fold 95% of the time with a raise and re-raise, especially a big re-raise.

So squeeze play is a handy way to pick up chips with little risk in the right situation. It is best to employ this play later in tournaments.

Now for a quick summary of this fortnight's play.

I played about 8 tournaments this fortnight, with only 1 cash. One $30 tournament I bubbled nicely after flopping 2 pair, with AJ and flop of A-J-9, only for K-Q to chase his gut-shot and take almost all my 12K chip stack.

In the tournament I cashed, I was feeling good after lasting out 5000 competitors in a $5 freeze-out. When SB put 400,000 chips all-in on a short handed table my BB A-Q could not hold up against a dubious K-4 unsuited, and my 500,000 chips stack was down to 100K.

The very next hand was strange, first position limps in 25k and on SB I put all my 100K in with A-10. The limper calls and turns over 5-6 unsuited. Most of us see some odd things early in tournaments, but not usually when its down to 15 people.

The flop was Q-3-4, turn Q, river 5, and in 2 hands I go from 3rd with 15 left to out. Winning a meagre $100, while first paid $2000, doh.

If you made it this far down the blog, thank you for your attention, and enjoy your poker.

Ciao
Rob (AKA Colonel1)
P.S. Bankroll $3070 (-$30 I think since last update)
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