When the blinds are big, act decisively

Next Tuesday night, Channel 4 will show the first part of the "Champion of Champions" tournament: a match played exclusively by EPT winners. It was a super-tough field, but I like that. Weak fields can fry your brain with baffling coups like the one below, from a "fun" $200 tournament in Las Vegas. I was chip leader with 230K, but this was a fast event: blinds were already 6K-12K. Two players (with 180K and 150K) limped in early position. You should never limp for nearly 10% of your stack – when the blinds are big, you must take control and play decisively – yet here were two of them! On the button with KK, I raised to 50K, intending for at least one of them to move all in. Instead, they both flat called, for a third of their stacks. In the late stages of a tournament, you can only afford to cold-call significant, stack-depleting bets if you've got the nuts. The first caller, at least, should have aces. The flop came 9 10 A. I was done with the hand; when my first opponent checked and the second moved all in, I passed immediately. The first chap thought for a good five minutes, then showed a nine and folded. Preposterous! He obviously wouldn't fold a set or two pair. So, out of position, he'd called off a huge chunk of his stack with 79, 89 or J9, hoping to hit a miracle flop or pass. He simply had no idea of the value of his chips. The winner showed AJ: he'd also played the hand like roulette, but got lucky. Shove or fold pre-flop, sir! Don't call and pray! I fared better in the more logical Champion of Champions tournament (despite the commentator's scepticism). Have a look, and we'll discuss it next Wednesday. www.victoriacoren.com