worst brain freeze ever???
 

I need to vent - what an idiot I was last night. Playing $20 no-limit holdem tournament with 746 players. Two tables left with 10 players - need to get down to 9. I am in 6th place with $75,000. Chip leaders have around 200,000. Blinds are 4000/8000. All I need to do is wait out one player. I get AJ unsuited and raise all-in to steal the blind out of position with a chip leader ahead of me. WHY??? He calls with AK. What was I thinking - I have no idea why I did something that stupid. I had been stealing blinds before this but should not have been doing it at this point. Has anyone else done anything this stupid???

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

Yeah, that's a horrible play. Maybe worth a 3xBB raise ... maybe.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

Why are you placing so much value on just reaching the final table?

What were stacks 7-10 like?

Have the chip leaders at your table been active, or have they clammed up waiting for someone to go broke?

There's 1/6th of your stack out there in blinds (and I'm assuming antes) and you're 5-handed with AJ. I don't necessarily (sp?) think it's all that horrible a push.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, that's a horrible play. Maybe worth a 3xBB raise ... maybe.

[/ QUOTE ]

You have <10BB already, now you're going to raise 3x and fold to a big-stack push (which they should do with a broad range of hands considering the situation)? Don't forget you're eating the blinds again in a couple of hands.

I think this is surely a push or fold hand.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

They paid the same from 18-10 (like $164). From 9 up the payout was much better. 9th got like $250, 1st over $3000. I guess I was just trying to guarantee a last table spot - I am admitting it was a horrible play. Just wondering if I am the only one that has done something that stupid?

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, that's a horrible play. Maybe worth a 3xBB raise ... maybe.

[/ QUOTE ]

You have <10BB already, now you're going to raise 3x and fold to a big-stack push (which they should do with a broad range of hands considering the situation)? Don't forget you're eating the blinds again in a couple of hands.

I think this is surely a push or fold hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let me restate more clearly, since my sarcasm is not too loud today -- FOLD.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

[ QUOTE ]
... need to get down to 9 ... All I need to do is wait out one player... Has anyone else done anything this stupid???

[/ QUOTE ]

Playing for 9th - as you obviously are - is far more stupid. Play for 1st.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

Are you saying you would not 'clam up' at that point? I was not playing for 9th but just a spot at the last table. Once there, I would be playing for 1st.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

If your playing 5 or 6 handed on the button with less than 10 BBs, there is NOTHING wrong with pushing A/J as a steal or in reality most likely having the best hand. Bad luck running into AK... Move on, do the same thing next time and play for the win.

Re: worst brain freeze ever???
 

I don't think this was terrible. You're 5 handed. You are on the FT bubble so people may be playing tight. You have 10BB so any normal raise is a considerable portion of your stack. The fact that you're out of position makes the all in idea better IMO since your bet negates position.
Just unlucky is all.