How would you handle this situation?

[LockLow34]

I played in a 2-table live $75 freeze-out tournament with 14 people last night. Top 4 positions paid: 50%, 25%, 15%, 10%.

ITM, 3 of us left.
Blinds(ante): 1500/3000(600)

I'm on the button with ~T19000
SB has ~T35000 (read is irrelevant)
BB has ~T17000 (solid, tight player who knows what he's doing; I've played with him a few times)

I was dealt K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
I raised to 6000 (just hoping to take the blinds)
SB folds
BB raises all-in

I could tell by his mannerisms he had something, so the range of hands I put him on was PP(88-AA), AK, AQ, AJ. Even 3-handed my read was that he wouldn't push without a hand like that.

Pot size at this point was:
T3000 BB
+ T1500 SB
+ T1800 ante
+ T6000 my raise
+T13000 BB's all-in
------
~T25000

I have to call about T10000 more so I'm getting about 2.5-1 on my money.

If he has 88 or 99, then we're in a race situation and the call is automatic.
If he has AK, TT, JJ, QQ, KK, or AA then I'm a big dog.
If he has AJ, or AQ, then I'm a 35% favorite.

In my mind the numbers didn't add up so I folded. He showed his cards and in a later post I'll tell what he had.

Was the fold correct, both in terms of tournament strategy and mathmatical calculations?

[Nick B.]

It would be better to just move in PF. When you have less than 8-10BB it is best to just push preflop.

Also, getting 2.5-1, there is almost no way I would fold.

[Costanza]

I'll say it again: push or fold preflop.

[Ed.: Take the rest of this with a grain of salt because I'm a noob.]

I think this is a call. You're getting a good price on the call, the blinds are high, and you're going to be at a 2:1 chip disadvantage if you fold. If you win you're in a great position to take first. If you lose then 3rd is almost as good as 2nd given the structure anyway.

Besides, with only 3 people left I think you might be overestimating villan's calling range a bit here. There's also the possibility he read your weak-ass preflop raise as, well, weak and is making a play at you. If he's really a good player like you said, he knows it's time to gambool it up a bit for first.

[TruFloridaGator]

Push/fold.