bubble decision

[Paul2432]

This hand occurred in a Party $100+9 STT. (top three pay 500/300/200)

Four of us left. Blinds are 200/400. I am UTG and have 800 in chips. BB has about 5500. SB has 450 (250 after posting). Button has about 3500.

I hold AJo. What is my play?

Paul

[prairieboy]

My first reaction was for you to fold. Here's why:

If you go all in (calling is your worst option) you are very likely to get re-raised by one of the big stacks and the SB will almost certainly fold if you're all in. You'll probably be ahead of the caller, but you'll be all-in on the bubble too.

If you fold, the SB will almost certainly be put all-in by someone else and if you're even a little lucky, you'll fold your way safely into the money. If the SB folds, then you're still ahead of him and can wait for him to make a desperation play before you make your desperation play.

If the SB goes all-in and wins, well maybe you'll get AA in the BB.

[TylerD]

I'm all-in here for three reasons:

1) Its your only chance to get a reasonable stack to battle it out to take higher than third.

2) It figures to be the best hand out there.

3) (and most importantly) There is no gurantee that if the SB goes all-in he will lose & there is no gurantee he will go all-in, so you will be in the BB with inevitably a worse hand.

Its a bit of tough one and if any of the variables were different my answer might change, but as it is my play is all-in.

[Paul2432]

Thanks for the replies.

I went all-in and the BB called with AK which held up.

Paul