Sklansky's "System" of all-in tournament play

[Beldin the Sorcerer]

His system is detailed in his "Tournament for advanced players" but the
overview is go all-in on certain select hands (Pairs, A-K, suited connectors
above 4-3) once the blinds become big enough (in an unraised pot) and on AA,
KK, and AKs in a raised pot. He claims that even knowing someone is using it
can't negate the effectiveness.

1) Has anyone ever tried this?
2) Doesn't knowing someone is using this make limping with big pairs to
entice them to push all-in with suited connectors a highly desirable play
and thus negate a lot of the effectiveness of it?

[D]

I've tried it a little bit, and I think I've seen others try it. At first,
it has serious intimidation value, but after a while, people catch on and/or
you run into a monster hand and probably lose.

A reasonable counter-strategy would be to trap with big pairs as you said,
and also to call all-in with big pairs (J and above at least), AK, AQ and
possibly AJ. These hands are going to be big favorites against many of the
System's raising hands.

No counter-strategy is going to be risk-free, though. You could end up
going all-in with AQ vs. AK or KK, for example. Or your pocket kings could
be cracked by pocket dueces. That's the idea, to give the System player a
reasonable (though not great) chance of going far without even knowing how
to play hold'em.


"Beldin the Sorcerer" <beldin@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:0Rx_a.12951$BC2.10464@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> His system is detailed in his "Tournament for advanced players" but the
> overview is go all-in on certain select hands (Pairs, A-K, suited
connectors
> above 4-3) once the blinds become big enough (in an unraised pot) and on
AA,
> KK, and AKs in a raised pot. He claims that even knowing someone is using
it
> can't negate the effectiveness.
>
> 1) Has anyone ever tried this?
> 2) Doesn't knowing someone is using this make limping with big pairs to
> entice them to push all-in with suited connectors a highly desirable play
> and thus negate a lot of the effectiveness of it?
>
>
>

[Craig Franck]

"Beldin the Sorcerer" <beldin@sprynet.com> wrote

> His system is detailed in his "Tournament for advanced players" but the
> overview is go all-in on certain select hands (Pairs, A-K, suited connectors
> above 4-3) once the blinds become big enough (in an unraised pot) and on AA,
> KK, and AKs in a raised pot. He claims that even knowing someone is using it
> can't negate the effectiveness.
>
> 1) Has anyone ever tried this?

I'd never try this in a money tournament because I think the system
is mostly a novelty. (It's sad Tournament Holdem from Wilson isn't
more like Turbo so you could program simulations and modify the
decision matrix.)

Also, good NL tournament holdem strategy isn't all that difficult to
master. I'd say it's easier than solid draw strategy, which motivated
kids can get good at in a few sessions. I think this fact is what
Sklansky's system exposes. Great all-around poker players have
a huge advantage, but then luck levels the playing field somewhat.

> 2) Doesn't knowing someone is using this make limping with big pairs to
> entice them to push all-in with suited connectors a highly desirable play
> and thus negate a lot of the effectiveness of it?

"All-in artists," as he calls them, are extremely intimidating. AKs is
only slightly better than a 60% favorite over any other non-identically
suited/sequenced hand, and any reasonably intelligent person would
probably modify the system on their own when they realized AQ is
probably better than 76s. You'd learn from just watching others play.

Also, when two-outers on the river send grown men away in tears,
most people wouldn't want to be the one to try and trap someone
using this system (unless there was a big difference in stack size).

--
Craig Franck
craig.franck@verizon.net
Cortland, NY

[Oliver Tse]

"Beldin the Sorcerer" <beldin@sprynet.com> wrote in message news:<0Rx_a.12951$BC2.10464@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
> His system is detailed in his "Tournament for advanced players" but the
> overview is go all-in on certain select hands (Pairs, A-K, suited connectors
> above 4-3) once the blinds become big enough (in an unraised pot) and on AA,
> KK, and AKs in a raised pot. He claims that even knowing someone is using it
> can't negate the effectiveness.
>
> 1) Has anyone ever tried this?
> 2) Doesn't knowing someone is using this make limping with big pairs to
> entice them to push all-in with suited connectors a highly desirable play
> and thus negate a lot of the effectiveness of it?

I tried this with pocket aces on the first hand of a freeroll
satellite tournament (10 players).

The system calls for going all-in on the first hand if one has pocket
aces.

4 other players call me all-in. (This is typical for a freeroll
tournament, where maniacs play show-down poker with the "any two cards
can win mentality").

3 of whom had lower pocket pairs.

One maniac had 2-7 offsuit. He was to the right of me and was the 4th
player
to call the all-in.

Guess what? The flop was 2-7-9.

The turn produced another 7.

The river was a 4, which helped no one.

The maniac with 2-7 offsuit called an all-in and eliminated 4 pocket
pairs, including pocket aces.

The maniac gloated and proclaimed himself god.

He mocked me with this:

"Pocket Aces no good. 2-7 offsuit always good."

Needless to say, I was pissed.

[wamplerr]

"2) Doesn't knowing someone is using this make limping with big pairs to
entice them to push all-in with suited connectors a highly desirable
play
and thus negate a lot of the effectiveness of it?"

The version in the book was simplified, I think he mentioned something
about instructions for handling limpers, but he didn't write about them
in the book. My guess would be to treat a limper almost the same as
someone who raised.

"I tried this with pocket aces on the first hand of a freeroll satellite
tournament (10 players)."

In a freeroll, I think this is the best play for Aces or Kings on the
first hand, especially in early position. People are looking to double
up or quit, so they'll call with anything, and even a good player will
be reluctant to fold Jacks/Queens or AK, thinking you are just trying to
double up or quit.

I'm wondering about this strategy in non-freeroll tournaments. What if
an unknown sits in a major tournament and opens all-in on his first
hand. Are you going to fold Kings in the Big Blind? If everyone does
fold, you muck your Aces, and hope to take advantage of the image.


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