Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

28 players in a home tourney, down to the final 9. Blinds 400-800.

Hero is on the Button with t7500 stack. UTG limps, folded around to mp3 who limps as well. Folded to me who looks down at 8h8c. UTG stack is t4800 and is is very tight, mp3 is t1200 and is a classic lag. Both blinds are fairly tight players with the small blind basically a rock. Play?

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

So two rocks and the only LAG is really shortstacked? Raise.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

At first glance this seems like an easy push, but "super tight" UTG's limp scares me. Your stack is too short to call/small raise. I'd have to get a read on UTG. If I think he's capable of LRR AA or KK, I probably fold. Otherwise, my chips are in the middle.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

I'd flat call and play for set value. What hand would a rock limp UTG when he has 6XBB left? The pot is unlikely to be raised, and it will be hard for UTG to bet without a hand ATF.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

I didn't think UTG was capable of LRR, so I did indeed push. My thinking was I could get him to lay down and isolate the LAG. Both ended up calling and UTG turned over QJd, mp3 had Ax. Q came on the flop and the 8's didn't improve.

Middle pairs are my biggest struggle in tournies. I think I played it right and just got beat.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

UTG is an idiot, not super tight. Your reads suck. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

[ QUOTE ]
UTG is an idiot, not super tight. Your reads suck. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I knew that was coming. On the surface I would agree but I sat at the same table with UTG the entire time and never once saw him showdown a loser. He either folded the turn or river or won the pot. I agree with the idiot part though. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

Yeah, with the reads you gave it made sense. Can't believe he called that.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd flat call and play for set value. What hand would a rock limp UTG when he has 6XBB left? The pot is unlikely to be raised, and it will be hard for UTG to bet without a hand ATF.

[/ QUOTE ]

Edit: got the stack of the LAG and UTG mixed up. Against a bunch of weak tight players, you can probably take a limped pot down post flop if no ace hits.

Re: Pocket 8\'s in a Home Tourney
 

But the LAG only has 1200. You're stacking him PF no matter.