Why do people keep 2 flight cards?

[Scotty]

You didn't even say that you kept cards. You said you do.. "sometimes." Zemond also implied that he does, sometimes. Before mac's post, 3 other players (Hausler, Bob, Luke) said they did. He could've been talking about any one of them. Your name is not directly mentioned.

really mystifies me that people even consider keeping 2 cards e.g. des and others.

Well, it kinda is

Back on topic, even though it's boring, I personally am in the standard "Cash first card if most of the table does" category. It's counter-intuitive, but I actually find myself playing a tighter game when i have cashed in the first card at the start. But, i'm a massive nit at the moment, so...

[BigPete33]

Aaron, please try not to re-open an argument once they've already kissed and made up. (eww)

Back on topic, here's a slightly different perspective...


If you don't cash in your first card, do you think you'll get any respect for a raise? I think the answer will far more often than not be 'no'. Firstly, because there's little respect at this level anyway but secondly because of the amount of overbetting that's likely to occur your only plausible option is limited to allin. This is also about the only way to safely (still maybe) push someone off a hand.

OK, if you lose the hand you have a safety net. If you win you're probably short changing yourself because you may have been able to win more. You may also find that you're less likely to have been re-raised to a point where you're allin to call if you have 2k instead of 1k.

You need a lot more luck if you choose to not cash in a card and everyone else at the table has. You basically need to get good cards and play very tight.

[Ondie J]

AND hit... which is leaving quite a bit to chance.

[maccatak11]

(and maccatak, having travelled for over an hour in his small rusty tinny finally gets to his favourite spot to cast the first lure. Leaning back and lifting the rod in order to clear the outboard, he casts the lure, hearing the familiar buzzing sound of the reel releasing its line. AND BANG as soon as the lure hits the water hes got a nibble, and what a huge nibble it is.........)

(does seem strange though that all the talk about results finished when des did look me up. i never claimed to be a poker guru, and apologise if you thought i was directly talking to you des, instead the use of 'your' referred to all players who employ this strategy, not just you. but man i love poker, such passionate debate and so many diffrerent ways to do things. awesome!!)

[Des]

might need to get the rusty tinny fixed, or some life jackets or something...who else am i gonna argue with?

[bennymacca]

arguing is fun! its amazing how i can find anything in the world to argue about - i think i love the debate

i think AK and maccatac11 also fall into this category

[Des]

brothers in arms hey? hehe
AK likes a debate yeh

Maybe ill get the chance to head down that way, should be fun

[bobneil]

i have not played a lot this season and playing mainly at a smaller venue, i have not cashed in a card (prior to the first break) unless it is needed.

as others have already stated, i think it forces me to play a bit tighter and use the chips more wisely (and perhapes more importantly stops me from throwing away valuable chips early in the peace).

it offers me a back up if i get all my chips in the pot and get donked.

the main reason is that the tourny is not won in the first 40 minutes. to win, you need chips when the blinds start going up and at the later stages. if i play tight early, protect myself from bad beats (as hard as some think it is to win with a short stack early, it is pretty difficult winning once you have been knocked out), chip up at the first break, build a stack from there and use the chips when it matters most, i give myself the best chance of a strong finish.

at the end of the day, it is a strategy and each to their own. if you think holding onto cards is a disadvantage, then use your 'advantage' over your opponents.

[BigPete33]

What you are practically forcing yourself to do then, is hope for a decent starting hand and push hard later on. If you don't get the cards that's going to prove difficult (remember what level we're playing at and how bluffing is mostly a waste of time).

you've essentially made it very likely that you are short stacked and it's nowhere near the points let alone the FT.

If you do win a hand when you push, thank the turbo blind structure

[bennymacca]

the problem is, you are cutting down your "winning" period from the whole tournament, to the time between first and second break.

you are basically writing off the first 2 levels as a "not losing" time, instead of a "winning" time.

there has been many times where i have accumulated 6-8K before the first break, and then have the cards go cold - this 6-8K stack sees me through to the second break at least.

if i had only used 1 or my flight cards, and got the SAME cards, then by extension i should only be expected to receive 3-4K before the first break, which means i am pushing the proverbial to get back into the tournament if the cards do not come when the blinds start getting high.

i suppose this is the same as the difference between an agressive player and a tight player - both can be successful.