Near bubble play - defend w/ AQ vs chip leader bully?
 

Relatively fast-playing Party $50 SNG, down to 6 at start of level 4
(1 large stack, 1 very short stack, 4 others roughly equal at 1200-1800)

Blinds 50/100
Large stack (~4000) makes it 300 to go UTG, I have (1300) UTG+1 and SB is short stack

Options:
1) Fold
2) Push it in (large stack has been med-aggr taking blinds & no one has played back)
3) Call and push if flop A or Q

I played it safe & folded (only to screw up royally on bubble stealing with garbage).

My thinking was that if I push & he calls, I've blown $EV (vs any hand but Ax) and I'm risking too much just to be slightly better off than other 2 medium stacks.

Thoughts?

J

Re: Near bubble play - defend w/ AQ vs chip leader bully?
 

If he's bullying, I re-raise all-in here in a heartbeat.

eastbay

Re: Near bubble play - defend w/ AQ vs chip leader bully?
 

OK point taken- push back if you feel he's bullying, but how about if it's too early to have a decent read on guy w/ big stack?

I know it largely depends on your read of Big Stack, but what if you have no read yet?

In other words, what's your standard play here against a "normal" opponent?

J