Stud/8 bubble hand

[rtrombone]

$20 tournament on Stars. 96 entrants. We're down to 9 and two of the stacks on the other table are extremely short. Final table gets paid.

2000-4000, 300 ante

Medium stack (T11084) brings it in for 500 with the 5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. LAG (T5950) completes with (??)K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. Big stack (T32172) folds 5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Another big stack (T30236) folds 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. I (T9274) call with (3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img])A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. Bring-in folds. 6000 in the pot.

*** 4th STREET ***
I have (3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img])A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]Q [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] and check. LAG bets with (??)K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]Q [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. I call. 10000 in the pot.

*** 5th STREET ***
I check with (3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img])A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]Q [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. LAG bets 1650 all-in with (??)K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]Q [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]8 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. 11650 in the pot. I call. I have T3324 left.

If (1) LAG is loose enough to have as little as 88 in the hole; (2) I'm almost 100% certain I don't need to raise to get heads up; and (3) the goal is to finish in the top three (I needed more chips to contend with the big stacks), is my play reasonable? I was looking to bust LAG and had a chance to chop. I was virtually assured of finishing in the money, what with the two super-short stacks on the other table. But I wanted a decent chance at finishing in the top three. I think my play was ok but wanted to hear from more experienced players. I have plenty of ring game experience (mostly 20-40) but this was my first stud/8 tournament.

LAG had split kings and I failed to improve. I limped to a 6th place finish (around $100).

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

With very short stacks at the other table, I think folding here on 4th St isn't terrible. When he bets into you there, you have to believe he's already ahead for high and you need to draw 2 cards for the low half of the pot and you're a dog to make high.

My understanding is that in a tourament, once you're short-handed with the bets high in relation to stack size, high-only hands have much more value than in a ring game.

[Andy B]

How many 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]s in this deck? Anyway, if two Fives of any description are gone, that has an impact on your scoop chances.

If we give the other guy Kings, you've got a little more than 1/3 equity, and you're getting more than 2:1 if you call 4th (calling 4th all but commits you to call 5th), so your play is quite reasonable. I probably would have folded, though. I'd hope for a spot where I could get my money in with a more significant edge, especially while I was waiting for the tiny stacks to bust.