[Padster]

I don't think this was as bad as is being made out.

Given the blinds are still at T15/30 and you're already at the final table possibly suggests plenty of action, which would make the steal foolish. But assuming you had reason to think it would work it's not bad.

I don't think the bb was in any way committed to the hand so is only shoving with something he likes. He's not forced to get involved yet.

The one thing I'd suggest though is that you need to remember you're CL. You have a great table image and have the stack to scare as well. You'd like to protect that if you can. So you pf raise size is probably wrong. You dont need to raise to half the bb's stack even though that's only 3xbb. You have 3 options (4 incl fold) :

1) Raise 3xbb - pot committing yourself with outcomes of either knocking out a non scary (fairly tight) player for not a huge amount of chips but with the risk of bringing you down to a medium stack.

2) Call and fold to a raise greater than min raise. Weak tight but in line with your table image and no risk involved. You can even auto bet the flop at a chance to win the same chips your pf raise would have won.

3)Min raise. Normally not a great play but here it conveys the same message to the bb as your pot committing raise. If he thinks you're stealing he's still coming over the top. He's less likely to call for value as that extra bb hurts him due to his stack size. You can get away if he shoves. You can auto bet the flop and fold to a shove as you then wont be forced to call for odds. You can also protect your tight image by saying you had AK if you are forced to fold to a flop shove.

I think the min raise is the way to go myself. The other advantage is that, rather than looking weak it can look very strong, like it's tempting him to shove pre flop.

Although you're CL you only have 17 BB (soon to be 12 when the blinds increase) so you need to start muscling the table. You def need to make a move on his blind at this stage, and your tight image will disappear soon enough anyway if you are trying to win that is. So dont beat yourself up about the play. It was alright.