Big Stacks Going at it
 

$20 Home Tourney started with 14 people and we're down to 4 and all in the money.

UTG has about 12,000
Button (me) had 11,000
SB has 4,000
BB has 1,000

Blinds are 400-800.

UTG and I had been knocking guys out and bullying the small stacks (almost working together, but not colluding or doing anything illegal). We were avoiding going head-to-head.

Here's my dilemna.

UTG raises enough to put both small stacks all-in, when I look down at 10-10. UTG is solid. I am certain that if I fold, I'll get at worst 2nd. If I call and lose, that brings 3rd & 4th into play. What would you do in that situation?

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

Without seeing the payout table, I'm probably calling. If one or both blinds come in, barring a ten on the flop, I'm hoping UTG will check it down with me. If neither blind comes in, I'm pushing on most flops, and folding to an all in bet on a two or three overcard flop from UTG. What are the range of hands you put UTG on? I think it should be pretty broad; I might make his raise with as little as any ace, and I'd certainly do it with small and middle pairs.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

Here's the payout structure
1st: $140
2nd: $80
3rd: $40
4th: $20

I put him on a fairly good hand. A big ace or a pretty good pair.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

fold. either a coin flip situation, or a your a dog to an overpair. if he takes the blind's chips,you will still have a decent amount of chips left.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

easy fold he at least has an ace or two overcards so you are anywhere from a 2/1 favorite to a 4/1 underdog and the underdog or coinflip is probably what your really looking at
if he takes both the small stacks out your only about 3/2 dog

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

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Without seeing the payout table, I'm probably calling......I'm hoping UTG will check it down with me.

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Without seeing a payout table, I'd fold because this probably is one of those situations where chip preservation can move you up significantly on the pay scale.

Although the check-down thought is very interesting, you have mentioned that UTG is into some forms of implicit collusion - has he been doing this as well?

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

i call and win the tournament if the flop comes good.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

[ QUOTE ]
i call and win the tournament if the flop comes good.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm really surprised at the people saying "fold" here. If the OP really put him on the range of hands he mentioned, then I think you are putting him on the wrong range. If you are sure about that range, then fold. But I'd make that play with Axo, maybe even KJo four-handed, and certainly 55-99. You can absorb a 4,000 blow to your stack if you get a painful flop (AKQ?) and still limp into 3rd, and maybe 2nd.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

Those 10s would hit the muck in a nanosecond.

Re: Big Stacks Going at it
 

agreed. It's four handed. fold? I'd call. you have position. If the conditions were not as described, (semi-collusion), then I'd raise here 4 handed right? But if you've really been "teaming up", I think there's a good shot of a check down... or maybe you catch your set and trap. So I'd call and see what he does. If it's undercards and he leads out.... maybe I pitch.... ? maybe not. 10s are too good to waste four handed.

Of course, that's me, at a home tourney rather than online, I don't really care about moving up from 4th to 3rd or 2nd here. I play to win, for pride and bragging rights. If I'm playing to win, I call here and see a flop.