Defending with T9o in a live $500+$35 MTT nearing the bubble

Will_Son

Started with ~140 entrants and down to 23 or 24-ish. Top 14 get paid.

My stack = ~90k
Middle-aged asian dude two to my right = ~45k

Blinds are 1500/3000 with 500 antes.

First two hands at this level (which began right after the break), this asian dude raised to 7500 twice in a row and won the pot uncontested each time. Third hand, he raises my BB for the same amount. I defend with T9o for 4500 more.

Flop comes JTx.

The way the flop played out was I checked, dude bet 11k, and I pushed.

Was that a good line to follow here? I think I maybe should've lead out on the flop.

Is folding preflop even an option with 13k in there?

Dave Scharf

I defend with pretty much any two getting 3-1.

I prefer to bet the flop. A strong bet and fold to a raise is my "basic play."

The pot is 20K (about) on the flop. If you bet 12K and he moves in for another 25K then you are facing 25K into a pot of 69K. It's a bold bluff on his part and if he is willing to make it I am willing to surrender the pot to him.

There is a time in tournaments when the stacks get short enough that betting at a flop all but guarantees that if you get action you are looking at the "real deal" and this appears to be that spot. Unless you have a reputation as a variance monkey AND he is paying attention AND he has the balls to deploy the re-steal weapon.

omega23

While there is a good chance that this guy is rushing, there is also a chance that this guy is making a play for the money before the blinds get too big to manage. Often loose/aggressive players will do that the moment the blinds go up or are about to increase. If you bet at the flop I think it has to be a large enough bet that you convince your opponent that you aren't going anywhere. Too weak and you looks like you called pre-flop just to spite his aggression and are making a bluff at the pot. He will likely go all-in. I think that the play you made could be effective, even if he has say A/10...he might fold it. If he has a jack or bettor, he will call for sure (obviously). By checking the flop you can get a good idea of the strength of his hand by the size and method of his post-flop bet. If your poker instincts suggest that he is weak, all-in is a great play.

What was the end result? And, why did you have 13k in there pre-flop? Do you mean 3k?. If so, I think you have the odds to call. His raise is not large enough to warrant a pre-flop fold.
Omega

harthgosh

T9o is a terrible hand in HU NL. It is the kind of hand you go broke with.
2 things: If your image was tight why not reraise preflop, either:

-Small to represent AA or KK hoping you can steal it with any kind of continuation bet on the flop, or maybe even right there (rare but happens), plus if he instashoves on your reraise, you can safely fold for a small amount rather than doubling him up.

-Shove, if your willing to commit with him on a JTx flop anyways, why not just shove it preflop.

Maybe add some basic preflop aggresion. Something to think about. Otherwise Daves advice is spot on.

gl