Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

Raise. I play to win, I guess. I like pushing here, you're going to have to take him on at some point.

Folding is the second choice of the three options.

Calling is horrible because you're putting 1/3 of your stack in with mid-pair, basically committing yourself to the pot.

edit: actually, calling with the intention to pull a stop-n-go barring an A on the flop is a good play too.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

i think teaming up has been thrown out the window.(once the other 2 are all in) if i were the original raiser, there would be an automatic bet after the flop to try and isolate the other all ins and get you to fold. as far as "wasting" tens, once heads up, good cards help, but really arent needed. my original post said fold, but the only other option would be to push. you cannot call.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

Hard to stop-and-go from the button.

Also, calling most certainly does not commit you to the pot. If you hate the flop and get bet into, fold and now the stacks are:

UTG 17,400
You 7,000
SB 3,600
BB out

OR

UTG 15,000
You 7,000
SB 3,600
BB 2,400

Either way, you can still work your way into the top three or maybe top two.

I don't understand the push option at all. There aren't a lot of hands that you beat that are going to call you here (AK, AQ, 99, 88, 77?) But all the hands that beat you will call. You are going to like almost all flops that don't contain an A, K, or Q.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

I don't want a call when I push, I want to take it right now... the pot is good enough at the moment to take with my push.

I agree with your stack assesments... but with calling we've manged to get ourselves to <9BB. Not many options at that point.

Push and take it down. I can't put him on JJ or better.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it *DELETED* *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

damnit i didn't realize it was a troll accouunt and i jsut got hypnotized into buying 2000000000E4 chips. don't let this happen to you

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

I'd like to thank all of you for your input. I folded and the small stack went out.

Big stack turned over pocket 9s and it was an ugly flop (KJ5-two diamonds).

I took 2nd and at one point had the chip lead heads up.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

I would call, since your call might put enough money in to convince the short stacks to stick around. Then you can likely check it down to the river.

If you're playing to win, a push isn't a bad idea, but I think calling with position and hoping to eliminate another one or two players is the best option.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

[ QUOTE ]
You are going to like almost all flops that don't contain an A, K, or Q.

[/ QUOTE ]

Aren't over half of the flops you see going to contain an A,K,or Q, not to mention a Jack added in? (you may not put him on the Jack, but it hurts to be wrong)

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

I agree with smoore--calling seems the worst off the 3 options.

If you're playing to win money, not pots, then you either want to fold because you're likely to move up in real money, or raise because the pot is large and you want to pick it up right there. Which one to choose depends what you know about the UTG. 1010 seems like a strong hand against random blinds, but not a strong hand against a legitimate raise.

If you fold, you'll still have a good stack to work with if it goes heads up. If you push, your putting yourself in a position to have a dominating chip lead, and you're forcing the blinds to have a real hand.

Folding or raising are choices about managing your chip stack to position yourself for a win. Calling seems more short-sighted, a choice based mostly on that hand, that moment in the tournament.