Pocket Jacks: Satan's Meathooks

Bill Kolter · #1 08-11-2005, 02:34 PM

NL Hold 'em tournament, final nine places pay. There are two tables left with five players each. The next player knocked out will result in the tables being consolidated. Blinds are $500-$1000, no ante. You have $10,000 in chips (less than average, but not the lowest) after you post the big blind, which is the position from which you will play this hand.

The short stack is first to act, and goes all in for his last $5000. It's folded to the button, who has $15,000 in chips. He calls, leaving his stack at $10,000. The small blind folds.

You have pocket jacks. Do you:

a) raise all-in (the only raise you can make, given your stack, to a $5000 bet)
b) call
c) fold

dmk · #2 08-11-2005, 02:36 PM

no reads? its either push or fold, calling is completely out of the question. pushing is probably best.

Bill Kolter · #3 08-11-2005, 02:39 PM

Neither player is a maniac, nor particularly tight. Not a lot of goofy plays from either one.

beetyjoose · #4 08-11-2005, 02:41 PM

Wait for as long as you can, hoping someone from the other table busts out...then Push

dmk · #5 08-11-2005, 02:42 PM

i probably push then

Rekwob · #6 08-11-2005, 02:48 PM

is calling and checking it down completely out of the question?

Bill Kolter · #7 08-11-2005, 02:54 PM

Does anyone fold here as a only a slight favorite (assuming at least one hand with an overcard out there),one out of the money, and slim chances of improving?

dmk · #8 08-11-2005, 02:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
is calling and checking it down completely out of the question?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes, completely.

dmk · #9 08-11-2005, 02:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone fold here as a only a slight favorite (assuming at least one hand with an overcard out there),one out of the money, and slim chances of improving?

[/ QUOTE ]

no chance in hell. i'm not folding a shot at 2.5xing up at this point in the tournament if i'm any sort of favorite.

beetyjoose · #10 08-11-2005, 03:08 PM

I definetely understand you're thinking here. Afterall you could be up against AA & KK. You would have about 9 BB left which isn't completely crippling.

However, this is a theme that is discussed all the time here. Folding into the money vs taking risks on the bubble to build a stack. I used to play very weak/tight around the bubble, and found myself making it to the first tier of money or not at all. This was mainly because you see the money so close and you say "well, atleast i can get X amount of money back". However, you'll find that if you take more risks in these spots you may bust out before the money, but you'll hit the big money occasionally. Which is where everything finally pays off.

With that being said, I push here. With 10BB left and JJ, this is as good a time as ever to double up and compete.

How did the hand/tourney play out anyway?