very early stars 5+.50

[aaronbeen]

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

MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1480)
CO (t1350)
Button (t1750)
SB (t1540)
BB (t1500)
UTG (t1460)
UTG+1 (t1420)
Hero (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls t20, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls t20, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP3 calls t20, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button calls t20, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, BB checks.

Flop: (t110) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
BB checks, UTG checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t80</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t160</font>, Button folds, BB folds, UTG folds, Hero calls t80.

Turn: (t430) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets t100</font>, Hero calls t100.

River: (t630) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets t100</font>, Hero calls t100.

Final Pot: t830

Should I 3 bet and fold the flop? I'm very new to sngs and I just assumed the guy would be terrible and turn over A9.

[jcm4ccc]

Just because someone is terrible doesn't mean that they can't be dealt an A7, A8, AQ, or AK.

Too many people in the game (9-handed) and too many people seeing the flop to feel comfortable that your AJ is good. I would probably check/fold the flop. If I did bet the flop, I would fold to a raise. It's unlikely that your hand will improve, and the villian is going to make you pay on the turn and river to see this hand to the end.

Are you primarily a limit player? In NL, you can't be certain that you will be able to see the hand to the river cheaply. Best to save your chips for later opportunities.

[pokerlaw]

This early in a S&amp;G, I don't want to lead post flop betting with only top pair/reasonable kicker. I like the idea of check-calling a small bet or check-folding to a larger one, since on the turn, you can get an A, J, or a flush draw if another club falls.

btw, don't discount someone having 78 in this kind of a pot.

[sofere]

I fold this preflop. People in the 5.50s are maniacs and I'll never know if my kicker is good. I've done very well in the Stars 5.50s - 11s just checking the "sit out next hand" box, and coming back in level 4 when there are 4-5 people left and I have 1200 in chips.

The bonus of clicking the sit out button is it really pisses everyone off when they've been "working so hard" to get to the bubble and you have a bigger stack just by taking a nap, eating dinner, getting laid, or whatever.