Very Important NLH Tourney Question(s),

[Vince Lepore]

40 players remain from a field of 150. You have T3100. Approxametly T100K total in play. You are one of the better players remaining (Top 15). You are in the cut off. Blinds are T150-300. A weak tight player raises UTG to T900. You hold A,Ks. What is your play and why? What should you be thinking at this point? What if your stack was T2100?

All inputs appreciated.

Vince

[eMarkM]

What's weak-tighties stack size? Do you have him covered? What's the leaders stack size compared to you? Are you an above or below average stack? Last 18 get paid? These are answers I'd want to know before I would say how I would play it. However, in most circumstances I would tend to go all-in, since AK plays best all-in and is only a big dog to AA/KK. You may get WT guy to lay his hand down.

[Vince Lepore]

Weak tight has about T2800. They pay 10 places. Average stack size is ~ T2500. BTW I believe only the weak tight stack size question is relevant.

Vince

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

If he's so weak-tight that he'll always fold AK & QQ to an all-in reraise, you have to fold.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I'm assuming Mr. WT will only raise with AA,KK,QQ and AKs and will fold everything but AA & KK to a reraise. In that case reraising all-in is -EV. If you expand Mr. WT's holdings to include AKo, the play becomes +EV.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

Most of the time in this situation I strongly consider going all-in. Your all-in raise will be in the preferred 2-5 times the size of the pot, and big enough to perhaps make the raiser fold, thus making it a good play. However, you specified weak-tight as the raiser. If you do not think he would make such a play with AQ, AJ or KQ, then going all-in is much more questionable. In that case I might be more inclined to pass. I really don't see just calling as a good option, as about 2/3 times you won't flop a pair and will find yourself in a quagmire as to what to do.

al

[Ignatius]

If he's tight to the point of only raising with AK and big pairs, then you have to muck. Weak or not, unless you have an image as a complete rock, no tight player will fold a hand he's been willing to raise with UTG for 1900 more when getting better than 2:1 and you know that the best you can hope for is a coin-flip.

[Rickfish]

I would fold or raise, never call. Depends what impression I have made about the range of hands he is likely to have. Depends how many are at the table too. Short-handed could mean he is not so strong. Some people always flat call with AA UTG, some people do so with KK too. If he is one of those then all-in by you can't be worse than a coin-flip. Depends also on how the table is playing, i.e. if I don't play this hand how easy is it going to be to pick up some blinds later. If it always seems to be raised before it gets to you then unless you get moved you are going to have to make a stand when you do get a hand like this.

The other question is whether he is making a standard size bet. If I was UTG I would seriously consider going all-in with any raising hand because some big stack in the blinds may decide to see the flop. Does that mean he is prepared to fold to a re-raise, or does it mean he is sticking to a pattern raise?

I can see the merit in folding especially if it is a fairly passive table. There is always the possibility that someone behind you is sitting on AA or KK too. If it is a very aggressive table I would go all-in because opportunities will be scarce. Sorry if this seems vague but it is the sort of situation I would have to be at the table for. I could fold but I think it is more likely that I would go all-in.

[bigfishead]

With WT it's important to know what he's going to raise with UTG. This sounds like a very easy fold play. WT's don't usually like to go all-in with AQ, AJ so if I do have those beat I wont get called but WT's will limp with the latter hand also(or muck). chances are he has between 1010-AA. In 3 cases it's a coin toss in 2 I'm a huge dog.

Key here is being one of top 15 in tourn remaining. When you are one of the better players you prob shouldnt take such close calls. You have enuf to continue w/o serious threat to stack for a bit.

I believe it's a clear fold and wait. Play with a better edge.

[MrGo]

I believe you have to take his positioning into consideration. A tight player raises 1/3 of his stack (assuming I read the post correctly in that he had T2800 before the raise) from UTG. It would be hard to put him on anything worse than QQ unless he is really weak. I would have to see the player and be playing with him to try to pick up anything.

I can see reasoning why calling is a bad play here...but if the player is weak, perhaps calling may be beneficial. See the flop and try to pick up a tell. If you are a solid post-flop player, perhaps you can beat him here? Thoughts?