Pot odds question

[Radford]

This happened in my home game. It was a sng with 6 players. I can't remember the stacks, but all of us had decent stacks. Not too deep, but average stacks to play with if you know what i mean.

I was in the BB with 10-6 off suit. Blinds were at something like 2k/5k. UTG raises to 11k. 3 other players call and i fold.

So it is around to me and there's 4 players in the pot for 11k each. 2k from the SB and 5k for my BB. It adds up to 51k. It's 6k to call, which gives me 8.5/1, right?

However, i decided to fold. I know the basics about pot odds and the odds here are very inviting, but i think my hand is just too weak to call. If it was suited i would have called, but all i've got is 10-6 off suit. I'd rather have something 23 or 34 suited. That's a much better hand to call with.

After the hand, my mate told me i should be calling with any two there. Is he right? Don't get me wrong, i understand that most times when you have great odds to call, then do so. But i assumed my hand wasn't the right hand to call with, despite the great price.

Thanks, Chris.

[Primitive]

Good fold.

Heads up you can call with any two with those potodds because 1 pair may be enough to win. In a multiway pot you'll need to hit 2 pair or trips to make the hand playable postflop (Approx 1:30 IIRC). Save the chips.

[Radford]

Ok, that's good then.

I know abot inviting pot odds, and calling regardless of cards if the pot odds are so good. But my hand just isn't strong enough. What am i hoping to flop? 10-6-x or trips.

[jeffnc]

First, this is a SNG so things are a little different, mostly because you'll generally have a short stack than for a cash game. An "average" stack as you describe it (even though you didn't give any detail) is probably going to be 20 BB or less when the BB is 5K. Was that close? You have to be more specific about these things

Now in a cash game you are more likely to call. You're about 5% to hit 2 pair or better with 2 random cards (more like 20:1 than 30:1). So in a cash game I'm going to be calling with any 2 there if I'm getting close to 10:1. I'd expect to win another 10 BB if I hit my hand hard. But that's just on average. I have to have deeper stacks and the opportunity to win a very big pot on occasion to help get my average win over 20 BB. Sometimes I'll hit my hand hard and lose big. Sometimes I'll hit and win no more than the starting pot. The deeper stacks is the main difference to play in a cash game.

That, and the fact that your pot odds for cash games and SnGs are different. ICM calculators can show you that your chip pot odds and your actually $ equity in the prize pool are 2 very different things.

So unless the chips stacks were unusually deep for a SnG, I fold there.

[jeffnc]