I recently saw a hand from the Aussie Millions Cash game and I thought it was pretty instructive for intermediate players on how NOT to play a hand. With 60-70 hours of poker programming on each week, many players continue to enjoy the game by watching players on TV. Unfortunately, a number of the hands shown on TV reinforce behavior patterns that are real money losers for most players. For example, playing small suited aces out of position is a EV- play for most cash and tournament players, yet you routinely see this in televised play.

In another blog, I recounted a hand where Phil Hellmuth gets eviscerated by Daniel Negreanu playing an A4o, out-of-position. Similarly, in this Aussie Millions video, Phil Ivey, arguably one of the best cash game players ever, dumps over $60,000, playing A3 under the gun. In the context of his playing experience with the other players at the table, the play may have made sense. Furthermore, there may be places where such a play is justified—you're facing blind pressure late in a tournament or you’re seated at a passive table and assured of seeing a cheap multi-way flop—but in your typical online or live cash game, small aces out of position are money pits. Fold them.

Here's how the hand played out.



The blinds are 300/600 with a 100 ante. There are eight players seated; the starting pot, with antes, is 1700.

Ivey starts the action by limping with A3 for 600. Directly to his left, Erik Lindgren limps as well with AQ. Novice and intermediate players have to recognize that these plays are not optimal in the typical online/live cash game. If there are 4-5 players to a flop, I can see Ivey limping, but Lindgren's limp behind is horrible here, in my opinion. There's $2300 in the pot with Ivey's limp, and AQo is a decent starting hand but one in which you need to narrow the field and figure out where you stand. I think the better play is a raise to around $5000 and would argue that a player in an online/live game is making a big mistake by mirroring Lindgren's action.

In any event, he limps and Chris Ferguson, an amateur in seat 1 and John Juanda fold. At that point, Patrik Antonius, holding 88, raises $3800 to $6700. I like this play. There's been no show of strength (two limpers), his eights are likely good and he wants to narrow the field. If he's called, he can re-evaluate after the flop. He puts in a nice raise to see who's serious about their hand. The blinds, Billy "the Croc" Argyros and Jeff Lisandro, both fold.

With the action back to Ivey, he re-raises $17,000 or so, a very aggressive play and again one that novice to intermediates should avoid. I can see his thinking here—he and Antonius play each other frequently; he may see Antonius making a play from position and decides to represent a monster hand. Unfortunately, Patrik calls.

Online and live, the limp/re-raise from UTG with a monster hand (AA, KK, AK) is a very transparent play and one you should use sparingly. It typically results in the pot ending right there with no further value for your hand, and when action proceeds to the flop, pretty much everyone in the hand knows what you're holding. Acting out of position when others know your hole cards is a problem.

On the 43Q flop, Ivey continues to represent a big hand and fires a 2/3 pot bet of $16,000 at the 24,300 pot. Antonius calls.

The turn is the 5, and Ivey fires another $40,000 at the pot. At this point, Antonius pushes, and Ivey thinks (more accurately, he pretends to think) for a bit and folds.

Note that Argyros comments at several points in the hand and when Ivey's contemplating Antonius’ shove, he makes a joke which falls flat. Not only does he look like a buffoon wearing his ridiculous crocodile hat, his breach of protocol is shameful for a better player. It's surprising even at these levels how many players don't show common courtesy to the other players. If you're not in the hand, respect the others who are and shut up.

To his credit, Ivey says nothing, but he’s clearly aggravated and gets up from the table to steam a little.

Let’s recap. Ivey limps with A3s under the gun, is raised, re-raises and continues his charade on the flop and turn until he’s rebuffed. Of course, if Ivey flops a monster here (two pair or trips), he looks like a hero, but those are both long shots (70+ to 1 and 50 to 1, respectively). It’s far more likely that he’s going to end up dumping off chips with a small ace out-of-position and he’s one of the best in the world. Do your bankroll a favor, fold the small aces out-of-position!

Still digging,

Edmond

gearyflop says

Good analysis, but I do think you were wrong regarding Ivey just going through the motions when he is thinking about calling the all-in. The announcers mentioned that he only has about 80k left, so he would be getting almost 3-1 if he calls and wins. Now it appears that he has 9 outs -- the 3 A's, the 2 3's and the 4 2's for a straight so his odds for drawing are 4-1. However, he can put Antonios on a bluff (he could have AK) or a semi-bluff with a flush draw even 20% or so of the time, the call probably makes sense. While the fold seems automatic, I wouldn't have been surprised a bit if he called given the % of the time where Antonius is making a move.

04/13/07

EdmondDantes says

Thanks for reading and commenting, geary. My read on it was a little different. Ivey's obviously a very savvy player, but it seems like he's putting a lot of thought into what is, at best, a marginal call. Unless Antonius has been shoving in his face with air all night, Ivey has to believe his bottom pair needs help. If that's the case, with 9 outs max, he's <20% to win from the turn. Plus, with only two players in the pot, Ivey's got a good sense of his pot odds--he'd have to call another $80k or so to win the $215k pot (assuming the TV pot amounts are correct). Bottom pair with 9 outs from the turn getting 2.5 to 1 on the call? I think Ivey knows he's folding pretty quickly. I guess he could be thinking Antonius has something like AKd or 67d, but wouldn't he have raised the flop bet with these? To me, it seems like Ivey's probably saving a little face here. Just my sense of it.

04/13/07

Anonymous says

Phil Ivey actually left the game after that hand. Once he lost they went to a commercial break, the TV commentators announce that Phil was not returning and showed him in the rankings as "-120,000". How could anyone play at a table with all that racket going on?

That was a great game to watch, some perfect hands against very good hands, lots of tension, and big pots, I agree with you though that the strategies used on TV will generally slap you down at regular games. It was the first time I found myself saying "fold that" to the TV. Phil was calling just about anything to see the flop, and playing the game the way I like to play, see lots of flops at any expense, although I don't have the luck of Phil Ivey.

07/11/07

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