2 hands for analysis

mads777

1st hand

Live tourney...about 15 left...8 paid...

Blinds 4000-8000 just moved to the table...so no real reads...

UTG raise to 28000

all fold to me in the BB

I look at AKo...I have about 130000 my move?


2nd hand

Blinds 4000-8000...cut-off doubles the blinds (seems decent)

me BB...I have A6o...I decide to take a flop...bad call? (I was feeling he was stealing)

I have about 90000...I barely cover him...

Flop A - Q - 10 rainbow

I check...should I have bet?

Opponent moves all-in...

I...?

Chugs

Hand 1: How many chips did the UTG raiser have? If he has a stack deep enough to take you out i'm inclined to take a more controlled approach. Call the raise and simply play it straight, check fold or check raise depending on if you connect or miss. If he has a really small stack (ie 28000 put him basicly allin) then push and play it pre-flop. If his stack is only about 50-60000 i might actually fold, becuase anyone putting in 50% of his stake on that raise is basicly decided to play this hand for all his chips, and simply raised half his stack to get a buyer.

Hand 2: A6 figures to be the best hand against a cutoff raiser but his a very hard hand to play out of position if you get a lot of cards in the playable range. You're A6 could be ahead but more than likely with this board being against a pair and a draw (gutshot) if not a set is quite possible. Remember a min raise is likely looking for action ... unless he knows you to be a passive blind in which case he is betting the minimum permitted to get you to fold if that's how he views you

jpajamas

I agree with Chugs, nothing more to add here. (Nice job Chugs)

mads777

oops...UTG raiser covers me in hand 1...

any other comments?

SirWatts

Hand 1: I'm kinda worried about this big raise UTG, but not worried enough not to push.
Hand 2: Absent a read I fold, that's a huge flop bet. He might be doing something donkish but you figure to be in bad shape here a lot. It depends how aggressive the player is but leading here is a decent option, folding if you get raised. With no read on the player I might fold preflop.

specialK

Hand 1: I don't really think you can fold this preflop here. I think you either need to FC or I don't really mind shoving in. It seems to me that a big raise like this from UTG would be a hand like AJ AQ or AK maybe even A10... The only reason that I think you can FC is because you have a 130K stack and you would still be left with a decent stack should you have to fold the flop. With no reads on the table here probably FC, but I think in most situations I move in here.
Hand 2: I definately don't mind the call preflop, although SirWatts makes a good point about having no reads (although you've played at least one revolution by now and must have some kind of something) either way, you called and the flop comes down and you hit top pair. I really don't like the check here, you gotta lead out and define your hand, basically this guy could be pushing with any number of hands and you have know idea what you are up against. I like a bet of about half the pot here, 20 000 seems about right with your stack at 90K and the pot being 36K + antes... but you definately have to fold to a reraise in this spot, and if the guy FC's you definately want to slow down on the turn & river.

Dave Scharf

Withouth peeking...

Live tourney...about 15 left...8 paid...

Blinds 4000-8000 just moved to the table...so no real reads...

UTG raise to 28000

all fold to me in the BB

I look at AKo...I have about 130000 my move?

I can't answer without knowing how many chips the UTG player has... (OK, I better peek)... Has you covered, got it.

I this hand I am going to call and then bet out 25K on the flop no matter what hits.

Blinds 4000-8000...cut-off doubles the blinds (seems decent)

me BB...I have A6o...I decide to take a flop...bad call? (I was feeling he was stealing)

I have about 90000...I barely cover him...

Flop A - Q - 10 rainbow

I check...should I have bet?

Opponent moves all-in...

I call the 8000 (leaving me with 82,000 which still 10 x BB).

On the flop I bet out 20K and fold to a re-raise.

On both hands I am looking to put the hard decision onto my opponent.

mads777

interesting responses...

in hand 1...I considered to move in...but I couldn't see myself being favorite if called...I was putting him on a medium pair 99-QQ...and I'm pretty sure he had called if I'd moved in...I dunno...maybe a race at that point would have been a good option...I mean doubling there would have put me in a good chip position to go for it...

Another interesting factor...If my opponent have something like AJ even AQ...(which I didn't think at the moment) I maybe loose him if I move here...but I probably stack him if we see a flop with an A...?

The problem with flat calling is that I have no idea where I am at...and I give the opportunity to raiser to bluff me with a worst hand if I don't hit the flop? (considering I check)

I like Dave's idea of betting 25000 no matter what falls on the flop...let say a flop you completely miss (3 rags)

What to do if just called...re-evaluate on the turn? check fold if miss again? Move in if no draw is completed (considering his call in that spot seems weak?)

What to do if he moves all in on you? You can safely fold I'd imagine?

Ok in the particular situation...I just called...the flop came 467 - 2 diamonds

I checked...opponent's move all-in...I suppose it's a clear fold...well I folded...opponent told me later he had AJd...I know it was a huge overbet (which I didn't realize on the spot) I just couldn't see myself calling there with A high...

For those who think moving in is the way to go...you move in wanting him to fold? Ready to race? Or think he could call there with a worst hand?

For hand 2...well i think my 1st error was to check...he then moved all-in...then my 2nd error was to convice myself he had nothing better then my pair of A...oops...he had Q10...I think by betting that flop and being raised I would have been able to escape...

Meistro

Hand #1 push hand #2 reraise preflop, call his flop push.