Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

This is at the 20+2 buy-in. The 25/50 blinds still seems to be a big gray area for me. Could use some input.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) converter

MP1 (t1170)
MP2 (t1190)
CO (t575)
Button (t620)
SB (t1310)
BB (t1210)
UTG (t1210)
Hero (t715)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t155</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP2 calls t155, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>.

Flop: (t385) 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP2 bets t150</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: t535

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

i would fold pre flop.

I would also fold the flop.


David

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

I would perhaps consider this on the button, and would do it from the SB, but would fold it otherwise. Almost the whole table is left to go, and you're probably in trouble against anyone who calls. No need to take that risk for 75 chips. That's my thought anyway.

"Only after the 10th punch will you see the fist, and only after the 20th will you block it." --Proverb from the game of Go

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

Start folding this hand in this position and watch your ROI go up. (Move allin if you have about 400-550 though).

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

holy crap i never thought about playing this hand this early.. if hero was in the same situation with AQo should he fold or raise with it? maybe i should raise

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

Folding AQ would be simply bad. Moving allin is stronger than folding, however I'd probably raise to 125-150.

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

What's the min hand you would play here then? AJo? Or is that still too loose? How about pocket 8s? 9s?

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

8's &amp; 9's are okay. AQ off is the min drawing hand for me. Check out Harrington on Holdem. It's probably the best I have read.

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Folding AQ would be simply bad. Moving allin is stronger than folding, however I'd probably raise to 125-150.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this tied to his stack size at all? If he had 150 less would this be a clear push? What about if he had 150 more? Still a raise?

At this level with this many people, I don't think I'm usually raising UTG+1 with AQo. Probably either folding or possibly limping depending on the table. This might be a leak...

In later position I'm raising, and as someone mentioned above I'd steal with ATo on the button in this situation.

Re: Big Gray Area For Me - Correct Raise?
 

I'd say you could justify moving all in or folding here considering your stack, but I'd lean towards moving in. If you just pot raise and are called, in my opinion you have to be prepared to move in on the flop no matter what hits. You've put over 20% of your stack in with the raise, so you have to follow through (which is why I'd just lean towards moving in pre flop).