Short stacked with Aces UTG

[maddo]

Hi.

$50+5 Online MTT

Over 400 started, around 100 left. You have been short stack for ages. You've managed to stay alive with a couple of all-ins that weren't called, and you got lucky with one that was.

Blinds are 100/200 (25 ante), soon to be 200/400 (50 ante). You are UTG with AA and have about 10xBB. How do you play it? Push? Small raise? Call?

Cheers.

[DemonDeac]

as with alot of situations.....it depends

hows the table been playing? how have u been playing?

[NYCNative]

With 10BB you are pretty muc in push/fold territory. A smart player will know this and put you on a wide range of hands. A smart player will also know that anything less than a push - minraise, call, any FPS play - will arouse suspicion.

Are you playing with smart or dumb players? The answer to that question should dictate your play.

[ChipLeader]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you playing with smart or dumb players? The answer to that question should dictate your play.

[/ QUOTE ]

That should be a factor, but you can't just say "these guys seem smart" and push. I forget which book this is from, its either Harrington on Holf 'Em or Theory of Poker, but the advice was: you shouldn't ask which play to make, but rather what needs to be considered when making the play.

On this hand, you arent really shortstacked, 10x is not bad shape at all. The things i would consider are:
A.) What has the table been like preflop? (a raise almost every time? Lots of limpers? Has it folded to the BB a couple times? etc.) This would be a huge consideration when playing the hand.

B.) What is the average stack at the table, and how have people been playing their stacks? (are you by far the shortest or would your stack cripple others if they lost to your all in? Also, have the shorties been pushing a lot, have the biggies been trying to run over people?) This is similair to A.), and is also very important.

C.) Is a bet of half your stack more likely to get called? Is there a chance of getting multiple callers? ideally, you want all your chips in preflop against 1 player, giving you the dead money blinds and putting you in best position to win the pot.

Once you've determined these things you can figure out the best way to get all your chips in and you'll have done it on your own.