Comments on this play??

[CrisBrown]

Hi kleraudio,

The pot-sized pre-flop raise is fine, but if you're seeing AK as a through ticket here (and that's not unreasonable), why not go ahead and get maximum fold equity pre-flop with a push?

To put it another way, I don't think there's anything wrong with your push at this flop. If you bet the pot, you're left with only 6xBB (six-handed, where only four pay) if he reraises and you muck. That's an ugly situation. Checking this flop screams weakness and sacrifices 25% of your stack when you fold to his all-in bet. Given that it's a $10 SNG at PartyPoker, there's a decent chance your all-in will get called by a weaker Ace or weaker overcards who are "playing a wish" (i.e.: hoping you're bluffing). So yes, this push is fine ... and in fact there aren't a whole lot of flops where you're not going to be willing to push in this spot.

So ... since you're going to be willing to push on almost any flop here, why not go ahead and do it pre-flop, when you can be reasonably sure you're either a big favorite or at worst a small underdog? If he calls with a dominated hand and catches -- as he would have -- oh well. If he mucks, you pick up a T500 pot, which is nice in this spot.

For that reason, I'd have pushed pre-flop.

Cris

[pshreck]

He can show weakness on the flop. It is clear that that opponent is INCREDIBLY weak, because limping at this stage in the tourney is almost always wrong. I doubt the opponent will all of a sudden lead out now unless he it. From my quick read of the villain he likes to call unless he has a made hand. Check down to the riv unless you hit a pair, then value bet.

[reecelights]

I think your preflop bet was fine. But if you were going to push on the flop almost no matter what (what would have scared you off?) you should have pushed preflop. Again I think it is fine to bet the pot preflop, but then check if you miss. Remember, AK is strong hand, but it loses to 22 without improving.

You have already given the impression preflop that you probably have AK, AQ or a mid pair. A push after a conservative bet looks either like a mid-pair, or exactly what you had AK, and a steal.

His play turned out to be bad, but I would have easily put him on a small pair and therefore checked.