On button, blind "steal" with weak A, hit my A on flop, BUT...

[patrick dicaprio]

did you consider pushing Preflop? you have less than 10Bb and with 300/600 blinds plus the antes you obviously want to win it right there. by raising weak your opponent decided to call and do a stop and go, which means he could have anything. a strong ace is unlikely since he would have gone in himself with those so i would only be worried about AT or A9. I think you have to call here.

Pat

[GrinningBuddha]

You're getting about 2-1 to call this bet, and I can't think you're more than a 2-1 dog in this situation given the board. If you are behind to a bigger Ace, there are plenty of split opportunities out there with the K. I'd call here without a specific read on the player that suggests he plays big hands like this.

[Garland]

I called. I figured without a read, he could have a weaker A, maybe a good K or flush draw, and even if he did have a stronger A, I have some chop-chop opportunites. As it turns out, he did have A10, but I caught two pair on the turn and that was that for my opponent. Mark one for the suck out!

I went on to take 6th of 161 in the tourney.

Thanks for all your comments.

Garland

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (9 handed) converter

saw flop|<font color="C00000">saw showdown</font>

<font color="C00000">BB (t4816)</font>
UTG (t6825)
UTG+1 (t5716)
MP1 (t415)
MP2 (t23096)
MP3 (t17692)
CO (t3555)
<font color="C00000">Garland (t5836)</font>
SB (t8717)

Preflop: Garland is Button with 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="666666">6 folds</font>, <font color="CC3333">Garland raises to t1600</font>, <font color="666666">1 fold</font>, BB calls t1000.

Flop: (t3500) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">BB bets t3216 (All-In)</font>, Garland calls t3216.

Turn: (t9932) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

River: (t9932) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: t9932
<font color="green">Main Pot: t9932 (t9932), between BB and Garland.</font> &gt; <font color="white">Pot won by Garland (t9932).</font>

BB has Th Ac (one pair, aces).
Garland has 7c Ah (two pair, aces and sevens).
Outcome: Garland wins t9932.

[kickindickie]

see...before reading the results, I thought you were a dog. If I'm in the same situation, I fold. I would think its quite possible that he would limp pf with a big hand, in hopes of getting you ai on the flop, or perhaps a mediocre hand, which he did in fact have. And, given that you thought about all the possibilites, do you think taking the risk on a potential coin flip, or dog, is worth it in this situation? Personally, I avoid steal raises where I can hit a pair and still not feel safe so I don't get put into such a position. But, I am also beginning to wonder if it takes such plays to really do well in mtts.