Tournament hand for discussion

Irah

I recentley played in one of the yellowhead poker rooms NL Holdem tourney, where the top 7 places paid, out of 60 ish.

Anyways, here are the details.

The final seven consist of one "monster chip leader", who contains over half the chips in play, another player, second in chips, who probably has 1/4, and then the remaining 5, one of whom I am( all very short stacked).

Blindes 3000-6000

I had roughly 30,000 in chips, and hadnt played any hands to speak of, until I was under the gun with Pocket 10's, and here I made a bad play and raised to 18,000, and the player to my immideate left, second in chips, took along time before deciding to call. The two of us see the flop.

Flop came A Q Q

What do you do?

ScottyZ

I certainly would not fold here if I faced a bet.

If I felt my opponent would bet here with nothing, I would check to him. Otherwise, I would simply move all-in.

It would be pretty rare that I would check here actually. Against an average and/or unknown player, I'd probably just go ahead and move in.

ScottyZ

sweetjimmi

You need to push or fold preflop IMO.  1010 is to good here...I push and hope for the best.

In your case...don't get there...just push or fold with only 5BB left.

EDIT: I realize that you mention you made a bad play here by raising 18,000. I don't think you can get away from you hand here...so I push on any flop.

magithighs

My initial thought is to push here.  But after a sober second thought, I think "what hand will I make fold here", and "what will my opponent bet". 

If your opponent is anywhere half decent, he knows you will call any bet here.  So, he knows he's got to show down a winning hand.  I think I might check fold because I know he will only bet a hand I can't beat  A something, or JJ, KQ, QJ are all possibilities.   I know this sounds wimpy but against a good player, I would check-fold.

Against a bad player, I would check call.  The thinking here, is that he will bet a pocket pair lower than mine, not thinking that I'm on a "I have to call a bet here".  And, I need to take some risks to double up.  I would do the same at the turn or river. 

If I was bigger stacked, say 10BB I'd be more inclined to push against the bad player, as I don't want to take any risks of a smaller pair hitting a set on the turn/river.   Against a good player, I'd check-call, as I know he would think he could push me off a hand.

Cheers
Magi

Irah

thanks for the replys.

As it turned out, I moved in on the flop, hoping that my opponent held a smaller pocket pair or suited connector and would fold.

Of course, he didnt. He quickly called with AK offsuit and I busted out in 7th place.

I feel I should have moved in pre flop, and possibly made AK off fold, but he probably would have called anyways. I like magis thoughts, and only wish I could have been thinking that way when it happend, but then again next hand I was the BB, and probably would have finished in the same spot.

thanks again,

Irah

Phippo44

I recentley played in one of the yellowhead poker rooms NL Holdem tourney, where the top 7 places paid, out of 60 ish.

Anyways, here are the details. 

The final seven consist of one "monster chip leader", who contains over half the chips in play, another player, second in chips, who probably has 1/4, and then the remaining 5, one of whom I am( all very short stacked).

Youre in the money now and severely short stacked. With 30k you can see about 3 orbits before youre completely blinded out. You have to think push with any ace, any 2 broadway, any pair, suited connectors etc.

Blindes 3000-6000

I had roughly 30,000 in chips, and hadnt played any hands to speak of, until I was under the gun with Pocket 10's, and here I made a bad play and raised to 18,000, and the player to my immideate left, second in chips, took along time before deciding to call. The two of us see the flop.

You have to push here. There is no point raising. I don't think you can fold this. If you do youre then on the bb with 24k. Worse than that, in the BB you have almost no fold equity...ie its likely someone will put you all in. What hand will you make fold here? I think youre looking to be called by a bad ace or 99, 88 etc. Most likely you get called by a random broadway hand. Push. Do it. You can't get away from this. The AK would call anyway, but pushing is correct. Against the sprectrum of calling hands of a reasonable opponent (in a shorthand situation) - AK-AT, AA-99, KQ, KJs (?)...maybe even a dirty ace like A8 -  you're probably better than 50%. If you add fold equity into the equation, this is the edge you need. The pot is also already offering you 9k so if you push and get a caller, youre already getting 3:3.9 on the call (assuming the blinds dont call). With these odds, plus fold equity you must push here. You can't get away from this hand, and if you did get away from it, it would be a VERY VERY INCORRECT play.

Flop came A Q Q

What do you do?