Few Final Table hands
 

Should I have re-raised this hand? I know I have a strong hand, but I really haven't seen UTG get out of line too much. I really did not know what to make of a minraise from UTG.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t8000 (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

UTG+1 (t120984)
MP1 (t184233)
Hero (t243623)
CO (t129200)
Button (t72640)
SB (t120405)
BB (t141518)
UTG (t98897)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to t16000</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, Hero calls t16000, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>.

Flop: (t34800) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">UTG bets t16000</font>, Hero folds.


This guy is one of the better players at the table. He has folded his SB to me a bunch after I played back at him when he was stealing. I have been average active on the table, not stealing more than anyone else. Should I respect his re-raise? Is my hand even strong enough to raise UTG?

Am I mis-valueing the strength of A9 5 handed?


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t12000 (5 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

BB (t201033)
Hero (t294423)
MP (t267758)
Button (t215610)
SB (t132676)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t36000</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">BB raises to t108000</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero ??</font>

Re: Few Final Table hands
 

I think both plays are fine.

hand one - Call - fine. Play for set value or undercard flop. flop - Looks like a probe bet with a Jack to me. Maybe a weak king. Buy you are most likely behind. Fold

Hand 2 - 5 handed, I would raise UTG with A9. That is about my cutoff for opening with a middle ace. A2,A3 etc. I muck UTG, 5 handed. good fold. Not very many hands you are ahead of here.

Re: Few Final Table hands
 

Hand #1:
Just calling preflop leaves you room to fold this kind of flop. If you're going to make a play at it, or think it's a steal, I think you need to raise him preflop. Otherwise folding this board is the way to go.

Hand #2:

Your raise is fine. Short handed raising a weak ace isn't as bad as raising a weak ace 10handed. You're goal is to get a weaker hand to call or take the blinds. It didn't work this time. That's okay. Fold and move on. Don't question this raise. The raise is good.