How do I play this? A2o w/ top pair. Also, quick 2nd hand.

[afk]

I just started with SNGs tonight (only played 3, but finished 6th, 4th and 1st hiyo!). I'd like some help with this hand. Being blunt, I'm basically asking "how do I play this properly?".

This is one of my first hands and I've only ever played a handful of SNGs, so unfortunatly, no reads.

Hand 1.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) converter

saw flop|<font color="#C00000">saw showdown</font>

<font color="#C00000">Hero (t1420)</font>
UTG (t2000)
UTG+1 (t1640)
MP1 (t1590)
<font color="#C00000">MP2 (t1370)</font>
MP3 (t1430)
CO (t1160)
Button (t1530)
SB (t1360)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, MP2 calls t20, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (t60) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t60</font>, MP2 calls t60, SB folds.

Turn: (t180) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t180</font>, MP2 calls t180.

River: (t540) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP2 checks.

Final Pot: t540

Hand 2

This is a different tourny. Did I blow my load too quickly? Or is this a normal push?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (4 handed) converter

saw flop|<font color="#C00000">saw showdown</font>

<font color="#C00000">Hero (t1045)</font>
UTG (t2250)
<font color="#C00000">Button (t5720)</font>
SB (t4485)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button calls t150, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t1045</font>, Button calls t895.

Flop: (t2165) K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

Turn: (t2165) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

River: (t2165) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

Final Pot: t2165

[lorinda]

Hand 1: Check/Call to light action, Check/Fold to anything that might hurt you.

Hand 2: Very game/read dependent. I'm usually happy to take the free flop here but it can also be right to push.

Lori

[Pepsquad]

Hand #1) I'm checking the turn. You got called on a flop where top pair/any kicker has you beat. This early in a tournament I honestly don't even mind check/folding any street if I go unimproved.

Hand #2) Here's my thoughts out loud. "K9o. Decent little hand for my shortstack. What range of hands will my all-in be called with? Do I have any fold equity here? Have the 2 big stacks been doing their job and raising up me and UTG's blinds? If not, I can fold here and push any two against UTG's BB next hand. Now THERE'S some folding equity."

Bottom line: I think that in order to evaluate your push here, the question that needs to be answered is "What is the liklihood I'll be able to steal the blinds next hand?"

[afk]

Thanks for the responses.
Hand one, villain had KQ diamonds and MHIG.
Hand two, villain turns over none other than red aces and I go out.

[dfscott]

[ QUOTE ]
I just started with SNGs tonight (only played 3, but finished 6th, 4th and 1st hiyo!).

[/ QUOTE ]

Congrats on your good start! I've gone cold so I won't offer any advice since it will likely be bad. &lt;g&gt;

[afk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I just started with SNGs tonight (only played 3, but finished 6th, 4th and 1st hiyo!).

[/ QUOTE ]

Congrats on your good start! I've gone cold so I won't offer any advice since it will likely be bad. &lt;g&gt;

[/ QUOTE ]

It's ok, I'm sure that in the grand scheme of things I played pretty terribly and got lucky.