$22: Plug this leak?
 

This game put my downswing at 30 buy-ins -- I can start complaining now, can't I?

I've been looking back through some hand histories to look for stupid plays I made. I think this was one of them.

I rarely -- meaning this is the only time recently I can think of that I didn't push when I had less than 8-10 BB -- do this, but it seems to have been working well against me lately so I thought I'd give it a try. How bad is this play?


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (6 handed) converter

CO (t685)
Button (t865)
SB (t1300)
BB (t2600)
UTG (t1400)
Hero (t1150)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t300</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, BB calls t150.

Flop: (t675) 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t850 (All-In)</font>

Re: $22: Plug this leak?
 

It's not horrible. I do it on occasion. But I also suck. So don't listen to me.

Re: $22: Plug this leak?
 

I would probably bet half the pot on this flop, to induce a call.

Re: $22: Plug this leak?
 

I HATE min raises but thats me and my preference. I can never seem to make them work for me. I still never know if it means strength or weakness. You want to get value of your rockets but maybe even raise to 450 pf if your pushing the flop no matter what. Id just push PF though. I hate giving cheap flops and getting out drawn so I prefer to not give them an easy chance.

Re: $22: Plug this leak?
 

I think it's fine to sometimes raise less than all-in with AA with 8xbb, but given that the guy in the BB has a big stack and is much more likely to call you than play back at you preflop, I think it would be better to make a normal raise to about 400-450.

On the flop I think pushing is fine although an argument can be made for betting something like 350 to try and induce a call/raise from more hands with 5 or fewer outs. Obviously folding at any point is not an option so it's just about finding the right balance between maximizing EV and minimizing risk.