Is it ever correct to fold AA preflop in a NL tournament?

[athosandaramis]

About 3 months ago I was playing in a $60 NLH tournament in central CA. We were down to two tables of 8 players each (everyone is now in the money, the big$ is for 1st-3rd) I am in second chip position with 85k and the chip leader is at my table with 125k. No one else has more than 50k but most have between 15-30k. I am in late position and see AA. An early position player raises all-in for 30k. He is immediately called by another player over-the-top for 45k all in. That bet is also called all-in by a player with around 35k. The chip leader moves all-in. He is also called (5 handed). The chip leader has been showing big hands all day. I decide to FOLD. I believed that by avoiding this melee I could guarantee myself a spot at the final table and a high (top 3 finish) A bad beat by the chip leader ends my day and a suck-out by any of the other four opponents puts me back in the middle of the field. Anyway, the AA would have held up. I eventually finished the tournament in 3rd place ($800.00) payout. I welcome your thoughts. One friend calls it the best laydown he has ever witnessed, another says I'm the biggest p***y he has ever seen and calls it the weakest play ever and that I outsmarted myself. I must concede that had I called, I would have likely won the tournament. I am intrested in 2 things: 1) how did I play the hand and 2)is there EVER a time to lay down AA preflop in NLH tournaments?

[willie]

well you took 800

and the winner took.....2400ish?

so i'd say you made a 1600 dollar mistake.


ps- search for threads about laying down AA preflop.

the answer is, no. don't do it.

[midnight24]

The only time it's correct to fold AA in a tourney is when players at your table are playing scared on the bubble to make the money and you are able to steal blinds at will. By folding AA in this situation, you can continue to steal blinds and build your stack until a player gets busted out.

In your situation, unless you are only trying to move up in money, you couldn't have asked for a better situation to give you a huge stack and a great shot at winning the whole thing.

[Mike Gallo]

[ QUOTE ]
The only time it's correct to fold AA in a tourney is when players at your table are playing scared on the bubble to make the money and you are able to steal blinds at will. By folding AA in this situation, you can continue to steal blinds and build your stack until a player gets busted out.
[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

In your situation, unless you are only trying to move up in money, you couldn't have asked for a better situation to give you a huge stack and a great shot at winning the whole thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Bad information here.

[yoadrians]

Very bad indeed.

Hey, if you have AA in a super satellite tournament, and 18 people get spots and you're down to 19 left, and four people are all-in ahead of you, and someone is SURE to bust, leaving you with a seat in (insert big important tournament name here), then, fine, OK, fold the aces and secure your seat in whatever tournament. Because at that moment, chip accumulation doesn't do a damn thing for you. You're just playing for a seat.

In most all other cases, just play the aces (hey, that kind of has a nice ring to it, baby [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[jccookjr]

Sklansky says try to find a way into multi-way pots. You've got the best starting hand, light it up.

[augie00]

I'm going to scoop your eyes out with a spoon.

[hornsby15]

Yes there are times to fold AA preflop in tourneys, and I think this is one of them. Against one or even two opponents your AA is an obvious play, but against 5 players, you are still the favorite preflop, but you are definately less than 50% to win. Why risk your tournament life in such good position on something that is less than 50%. Now, had the chipleader not been involved, its a different story.

Mind you, I just started another thread about folding AA, so don't necessarily take my advice! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[SheepCookers]

I disagree since chip leader is involved then there would be a decent side pot and if he does get sucked out by one of the smaller stacks he still gets a decent size side pot to break almost even.

Based on your logic if the chip leader moved in without anyone in the pot you should lay down?

[yecul]

[ QUOTE ]
I disagree since chip leader is involved then there would be a decent side pot and if he does get sucked out by one of the smaller stacks he still gets a decent size side pot to break almost even.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's my take on it. You're worried about the CL beating you, not the others. I do not like laydown unless you really needed that $800 and it was worth risking $1600 to ensure it.