(33) - 88 in BB 8-handed level 3, utg raises

[schwza]

utg (or, utg+2 in a 10-handed game) had been quiet in levels 1 and 2 but opened up more in level 3.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) converter

Button (t420)
SB (t1705)
Hero (t525)
UTG (t740)
UTG+1 (t635)
MP1 (t1835)
MP2 (t1840)
CO (t300)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to t175</font>, <font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, Hero ?

This is pretty tough, since your description of him is that of a standard good SNG player. Yes he's started to play more cards, but even level 3 is still a little too early to be pushing Ax UTG.

So, I think it's safe to assume two overs or a high pair (would YOU do that w/ 77?). You will be less than 10xBB, but I would probably wait if you think you'll be able to take advantage of a less marginal situation within the next 20 hands. If not (or it doesn't matter), I'd reraise all-in and hope it's just a coin-flip.

[se2schul]

I fold. You are likely at best a coin flip. I'm sure you can find a better spot to get your money in.

[kyro]

seems like a decent place for a stop 'n go. plenty of chips = good FE on the flop.

*Edit* Dammit people. I hate asking for this everytime I want to reply to a post. How many hands til blinds go up. The closer to Level 4 it is, the more I like a SnG.

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I fold. You are likely at best a coin flip. I'm sure you can find a better spot to get your money in.

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I agree

[schwza]

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How many hands til blinds go up.

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i don't remember. for the sake of concreteness, assume it's 3.

[schwza]

i decided my hand was too good to fold here, so i called, intending to push any non-A flop. it came 762r, so i c/r'ed all-in and got called by AJ.

Close call I think, but I fold this. Despite the fact that UTG had opened up some in the current round, his raise of almost 4x utg shows significant strength. You can pretty much assume that if you push (calling is not even an option in my opinion), tha you will be called. I would say there is about a 60 percent chance, if not more, that you are in a coin toss (two overs), and then probably 20-20 he has you dominated (over pair) and you have him dominated (one under). I think with blinds only at 50, you can likely find a better spot.

You do not have enough chips left to effectively run it, even against a solid player. Too likely that you will be called by the player even if he just has two overs on the flop.

[schwza]

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You do not have enough chips left to effectively run it, even against a solid player. Too likely that you will be called by the player even if he just has two overs on the flop.

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i will push 350 into 375. if he has 2 overs, he's 25% to win the pot, meaning that his call costs him 350 - 1075*(1/4) = 81 chips. so i gain in chipEV 81 chips when he calls with overs, but risk going broke. i'm not sure, but i'd guess his call is a little -$EV for me, but his calling with overs is not too bad for me.

the real problem will be if he folds a hand like A7 with 3 outs. i do think i pick up some equity with my line by not going broke if an A flops though.