Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

Pokerroom $20K guaranteed tourney - 630 entrants

36 left

I have $22K

Blinds are $1K/$2K

Average stack is about $36K

31st - 36th pays $112, 30th pays about $140,

of course, the real money is at the final table -

1st pays $5600.

Folds to me in MP with AJs - standard raise, fold, push?

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

I raise to 5k.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

Minus any reads on CO, button, blinds, and assuming your table image is fairly tight, i'd raise here to 5-6K.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

Is there a big stack left to act behind you? If your 5000 raise gets called, you'd have to fire a conitinuation bet on most flops, probably 9000 or so. That's 2/3 of your stack in the pot. I think you have to push here if there are big stacks behind you that might want to look at a flop.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

Everyone left to act has me covered, but not by much. ($24K-$45K).

SB is biggest stack left to act with ~$45K.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

I'd push here because:

1) You are on a relatively short stack (11BBs) and are several places from making much more money - so I'm hoping to win a race against a hand like 99 or TT.

2) You're going to have a catch a break somewhere soon to get into the big money.

3) AJ does not play well OOP - so you don't want any callers.

I'm guessing you pushed and got busted, but it was probably the right play IMO.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

I have never played pokerroom so i dont know if there are antes. if there are i make it 6k, if not, i make it 5k. depending on my read of any player that plays back at me id consider calling an all in- although id be less likely to do so if i had made it 5k.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

My preference is to raise. AJs is a great hand from MP, and I think you want action. You are going to need to win some chips to make a run for the money, and more than just the blinds. The pay difference between 36 and 30th isn't that much. I'd be looking to gamble with what's likely the best hand.

A better hand is going to call a push anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My preference is to raise. AJs is a great hand from MP, and I think you want action. You are going to need to win some chips to make a run for the money, and more than just the blinds. The pay difference between 36 and 30th isn't that much. I'd be looking to gamble with what's likely the best hand.

A better hand is going to call a push anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very interesting line. My first instinct was to push, but I this line has some merit. You arent going to be pushing out AQ+ JJ+ anyway, might as well give someone else a chance to call with AT, KQ, etc.

I think this is the best line, turns to a push once you get down to 16000 or so, IMO.

Also, I am calling any push after I raise.

Re: Already ITM - AJs in MP - your move?
 

I agree with Locutus. Because the stack sizes to your left are not much bigger than yours, a push will most likely only be called by someone with a better hand. You can find out all you need to find out by raising to 5-6k. Weaker aces and small pocket pairs will probably get out of the way, not wanting to risk 20% of their stack. If you are re-raised all-in, you are probably beat. If you are flat called, you are probably ahead.

Part II
 

OK - since the consensus here seems to be just raise.

Let's say I raise to $5.5K and it folds to SB (~$45K) who...

1) Pushes all in - do you fold or call?

OR

2) SB Flat calls -
Flop (~$14K) comes 833r - SB checks - now what? A continuation bet? If so, how much and what is your plan for the rest of the hand?

Re: Part II
 

[ QUOTE ]
OK - since the consensus here seems to just raise.

Let's say I raise to $5.5K and it folds to SB (~$45K) who...

1) Pushes all in - do you fold or call?

OR

2) SB Flat calls -
Flop (~$14K) comes 833r - SB checks - now what? A continuation bet? If so, how much and what is your plan for the rest of the hand?

[/ QUOTE ]

Preflop, I call the push and take my chances. The pot is too big to fold here.

On the flop, it is either take the free card or push. I probably push (I chose to raise small to try to double up, not to dump 20% of my 11xBB stack)

Re: Part II
 

I would have raised to 7K to show I was committed to the hand.

I'm calling a push. I'm may be only slightly behind getting good pot odds.

I'm betting 1/2 the pot on the flop and moving in on the turn. If I'm ahead before the flop this was a good flop.

Re: Part II
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
OK - since the consensus here seems to just raise.

Let's say I raise to $5.5K and it folds to SB (~$45K) who...

1) Pushes all in - do you fold or call?

OR

2) SB Flat calls -
Flop (~$14K) comes 833r - SB checks - now what? A continuation bet? If so, how much and what is your plan for the rest of the hand?

[/ QUOTE ]

Preflop, I call the push and take my chances. The pot is too big to fold here.

On the flop, it is either take the free card or push. I probably push (I chose to raise small to try to double up, not to dump 20% of my 11xBB stack)

[/ QUOTE ]

OK - so basically you are saying that you are going to the felt with this hand no matter what.

So your reasoning for just raising is to try and let weaker hands (ie KJ, AT, etc) in cheaply so you can hopefully double up. I think there is some validity to this argument.

But if you are going to the felt with these two cards anyway, why not just push pre-flop when your folding equity is highest? +T3000 is better than -T22000.

Re: Part II
 

If hero is ahead, villain is drawing to 6 outs or so. You want his action. If hero has an 8 or a 3, that's the chance you took when you didn't pick up the pot with a push BTF.

Re: Part II
 

1) If the SB re-raises all-in, I probably fold. What hands can you put him on that you beat? SB might put you on a blind steal, but it is probably too risky for him test his read by re-raising all-in. If he loses, he doubles you up, and is now a short stack. Do you think he would risk half of his stack with KQ or A10, especially with the BB yet to act?

2) If SB flat calls, you are probably ahead. I put him on something like KQ, A10 or a small pocket pair. Sure, he could be slow playing a monster, but if that is the case, pushing pre-flop wouldn’t have made a difference anyways. If it is checked to me, I go all-in. You can’t fool around here. He will probably know that you missed, but unless he has a monster, you should pick up the pot. That is, unless he is willing to gamble that his small pockets will hold up, or that you do not have a monster. Either way, my money is in the middle.

Checking is the worst option. Why show weakness and give him a chance to hit his hand. And If an Ace hits, you’re not folding your hand, and you won’t get paid off. The only with he calls is if he has a bigger ace. So might as well put him to the test on the flop.