Almost Full Table + Large Blinds

[bluewilde]

Just found myself pushing Q9 UTG with 500 chips at blinds 100/200 8-handed. Such an ugly spot, but I didn't think it would get better. Table was extremely tight, usually folding it to the BB, or folding it to one of the three players smart enough to steal.

There were two spots I passed on in getting so desperate. First was UTG with ATo 75/150. Should I have pushed that? I just didn't know if it could stand up to 7 random hands (it was, however, folded to BB). Second was KQs at the same blind level same position. I love pushing this hand, but with so many guys behing me I just couldn't do it. Are either of these folds wrong?

[tigerite]

ATo is definitely wrong, KQs depends, but probably wrong also, yes.

[bluewilde]

Doh, I guess I'm exagerating the impact of being 8-handed. What if these guys were looser?

[tigerite]

Doesn't matter, you could push ATo face up with 6-7 bb or whatever you had UTG and it'd still be +EV. KQs becomes a little closer, and is probably slightly -EV, but is still often better to take that than the more -EV of going through the blinds.