3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

Inter $20+2 No-limit. 3 players remaining. 1st - $600 2nd - $400 3rd - $240

BUTTON is a solid player, plays solid hands and is in a commanding lead with T60,532.

BB is decent but seems too tight and has just been along for the ride, T20,432.

I am on the SB with T24,734 and am dealt AKo. Button immedeately goes all in.

What is my move here?

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

Any reads on the Button? Does he do this a lot? Smells like a weak pair to me, so it depends on weather you're in the mood for a race. [The more disturbing possibility is that he's betting funny with AA or KK, and hoping someone will think, "Overbet!" and call with their AJo.]

Given your read on the guy behind you, I'd...[slips into flame-retardant suit]...geez, I think I'd lay it down. I just hate calling all-ins with AK, though short-handed it is a monster. But why is Button pushing if he has AQ or any other hand you dominate?

If the third player is as tight as you say, you should be able to steal from him until he's ground down to dust.

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

You have to call. He is going to start pushing you around, and if you don't push back with AK, what are you going to push back with? He would make this play with anything down to AT, KJ or any pair.

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

if the blinds are 25/50, you should fold. if they're 2k/4k, you should call.

what are they?

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

I should have asked about blinds here. How are you doing?

[ QUOTE ]
He would make this play with anything down to AT, KJ or any pair.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess that's my question about the read. How does the push compare with his average raise? If it's standard, call away. If it's out of the ordinary, I'm going to think long and hard about it.

[ QUOTE ]
or any pair

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, that's the problem isn't it. Do you want the unhappy side of a coin-flip (unless the pair is AA or KK) when you can (it seems) bully the other small-stack?

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

Yeah sorry, meant to post the blinds 1,200/2,400.

Results to come.

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

if you're playing to finish 2nd, lay it down. If you're playing to win, call.

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

button's raise is not exorbitant - it's essentially 10 bb's. i think folding here gives up too much edge. plus if you double up right now, the BB will likely continue playing too tight and you should be able rob blinds a ton.

Re: 3 players left, Call the big Stack?
 

[ QUOTE ]
if you're playing to finish 2nd, lay it down. If you're playing to win, call.

[/ QUOTE ]

and if you're playing to maximize your payout....

RESULTS
 

I called. BB folded. Button flips over 10-10 and I lose unimproved. In fact he flopped the set. So after the tournament I started thinking, I think a fold was in order here. I figure I was about 3-1 to outlast the BB for second place. Obviously catching the button would have been a task but I feel I had a decent chance heads up. So given that info, i think a coinflip situation was -EV in terms or money.

A few hands before the chip leader had raised 2 times the big blind, I had pocket 4's I thought for a long time and folded. Turns out the other guy called and i would have flopped the set. Chip leader won the hand with 8-4. So he was definitely mixing his play well. I knew it was an all in or fold and I didnt want to go all in on a coin flip. Obviously in hindsight I wish I would have.

So on the AK I called pretty quickly and didnt think it through. And I did exactly what I didnt want to do.

Thanks for the replies, good info.