AK on the Bubble (Party $22)

[niquewon]

***** Hand History for Game 2565561957 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $20 Buy-in + $2 Entry Fee Trny:14996930 Level:6 Blinds(100/200) - Saturday, August 20, 02:59:37 EDT 2005
Table Table 14252 (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 4
Seat 2: MrNikko ( $1720 )
Seat 4: deadlybluffs ( $1095 )
Seat 8: RageOn64 ( $2660 )
Seat 10: illmatic112 ( $2525 )
Trny:14996930 Level:6
Blinds(100/200)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to MrNikko [ Kc Ad ]
deadlybluffs folds.
RageOn64 raises [400].
illmatic112 folds.
MrNikko ?


Up to this point the villan in question had minraised a couple times before so I don't think he's limping a monster hand and probably has a marginal holding. I'm obviously playing this hand but should I be pushing it all in preflop or should I call the raise and push on the flop?

[Karak567]

All in.

I can't get my chips in fast enough.

[yid3655]

You have to fancy you are well ahead here, unless you have any reads on the raiser (i.e the minimum raise) I would push. 700 in the pot already this increases your stack by 40% if he folds. Folding is out of the equation, no real short stacks this is the chance to make yourself a decent favourite at winning the tournament

[Scuba Chuck]

What are you considering?

I assume you're not considering a fold? right?

Tell us your line going forward.

[NiR]

if you want to play it safe, then just call and play it out. but i would push here. but calling and playing it out doesnt look that bad either. i dont want a the donk to call my push and get out drawn by QJ or a having him call with low pockets.

[Scuba Chuck]

[ QUOTE ]
if you want to play it safe, then just call and play it out. but i would push here. but calling and playing it out doesnt look that bad either. i dont want a the donk to call my push and get out drawn by QJ or a having him call with low pockets.

[/ QUOTE ]

What would be the purpose of "playing it safe?"

[niquewon]

My two plays in this spot were to either push all in preflop or call the raise and push on the flop. I ended up going the stop and go route here because I was first to act and I thought I could get villan to fold his hand if he didn't catch a piece or the flop or the even a smaller pocket pair if the board was scary.

[lwspoker69]

I don't see how not pushing is correct.

[HonestIago15]

[ QUOTE ]
if you want to play it safe, then just call and play it out. but i would push here. but calling and playing it out doesnt look that bad either. i dont want a the donk to call my push and get out drawn by QJ or a having him call with low pockets.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thinking that flat-calling here is playing it safe is a totally incorrect and misleading way to read this hand.

AK is a great hand. There's no way you can fold here. But why is pushing my only move here? Two easy reasons.

1) I want his ass folded. Period. Pushing will often do this.

2) I don't want him to see anything on that flop that makes him want to call the bet that, if HERO flat calls, is obligated to make from his position.

I'd never flat call here.