A8 suited, down to heads-up (x-posted in the probablilty forum)

[Duece Three]

20+2 sit-n-go on PP

Down to heads-up, even-ish stacks (I have 3600 to villain's 3400 - roughly)

Blinds are 500/1000

In the BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Villain raises to T1500

My read is that he is likely to have a good hand, pocket pairs, a couple broadways, or at least an Ace...

What's my move?

How can he raise to 1500 if bb is 1000?
IF your blinds are right listed at 500/1000 and you're stack is 3.6 times the bb, you simply must push. The blinds are too high for skilled poker to be required. It's simply time to gamble it up and hope for the best.

[illegit]

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen blinds get that high. In fact I was unaware it was even possible. If this heads up has lasted more than 5 hands you're both playing too tight.

[ezmogee]

I think you mean that blinds are at 250/500 or worse 300/600...whatever the case, unless you have some REAL read, you cannot told this hand.

By real read, I mean that you've been headsup for sometime and this is the first time he's made a NON-ALLIN RAISE...meaning the first time hes specifically raised 3xBB rather than just pushing.

If you can say that for certain, I'm okay with folding. In general, you can't fold A8 suited heads up...it's just too strong. He could be making that raise with so many hands...

Another thing to consider...has he folded the last 5 or 6 hands? If so, it's possible that he's hes found something like QJ or even lower and feels like youd respect his raise, because hes taken a half dozen hands off.

There are the things you need to think throuhg before you can consider laying down A8s headsup.

[Duece Three]

Correct, I just reviewed the log, the blinds were 250/500...

Thanks for the replies!

[Brad F.]

A good player raises with such a wide variety of hands that it'd be impossible for me not to push here.

Brad

[downtown]

[ QUOTE ]
A good player raises with such a wide variety of hands that it'd be impossible for me not to push here.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. There's just no time for nuance at these blind levels. Push it.

[Duece Three]

Thanks for the replies!

[Indiana]

In HOH Volume II there is a section on Heads Up that explains that 90% of the time your opponent will not have an A when u have one. Also, pairs are rare enough heads up that you are prolly just taking a coinflip if he calls. Plus you are suited?? Dude, just shove ur chips in. Actually, do you remember that Phil Ivey beat D'Agostino with this very same hand by pushing over top of his raise to go on and become the Turning Stone champ?

Indy