Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

I think he'd make a continuation bet on the flop if he had TPTK since there's two diamonds. The check-raise claims he has at least one 2 or 99. I'd fold.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

Call here every time. In my experience this is almost never an overpair. If he sees you as a tight player, he would be too afraid of scaring you off by checkraising all in. Overpair almost always leads out here for value/hand protection. Most often you will see overcards + flush draw pulling this move. It could also be a bluff with overcards if he thinks you are tight and thinks you can laydown a mid pocket pair.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think he'd make a continuation bet on the flop if he had TPTK since there's two diamonds. The check-raise claims he has at least one 2 or 99. I'd fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

Putting him soley on 99 or a two is just plain ridiculous given the action so far. What hands does he open raise from MP with that include a two? 99 is possible here, but it's unlikely he would play 99 this fast on this board, for fear of scaring hero off. What hero would be most afraid of here is an overpair to his hand.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think he'd make a continuation bet on the flop if he had TPTK since there's two diamonds. The check-raise claims he has at least one 2 or 99. I'd fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go by that argument, you should fold AA here too.

Are you folding AA here?

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

A couple of questions for those advocating a call:

I understand that this looks a lot like a draw, but don't you find it unusual that the villain is playing an unmade hand this fast vs. an unkown player that can bust him when the third place stack is so much shorter?

Given the fact that I should be able to abuse the smaller stacks to my left even if I fold, what kind of edge do I need to call here? What would be a good weighted hand range to use to calculate my equity?

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

You're dead against A2, bigger pockets or a set. You're vastly ahead of A9, a smaller PP or a total steal. Against two diamond overs, which is what I would want to have making this move, you're in a coin flip:

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1425163
pokenum -h th tc - ad jd -- 2d 9d 2c
Holdem Hi: 990 enumerated boards containing 2c 9d 2d
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
Tc Th 508 51.31 482 48.69 0 0.00 0.513
Ad Jd 482 48.69 508 51.31 0 0.00 0.487</pre><hr />Villain may be tricky but he cannot be stupid. To risk his stack against the one player who can knock him out there has to be a reason. I fold here. I don't even know if I call KNOWING it's a coin flip to be honest since I can't help but feel there will be much better edges to come with my still-sizable stack.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

I'm probably not good enough to fold any over pair here. I probably call in real life, but this board is about 20/20 hindsight.

My initial reaction was to call; but after thinking through the villians' line- that if he had TPTK or an overpair, with the flush draw on board, and a large stack, and him messing with the other big stack, he's got to have a 9 or at least one 2.

He could be stealing on the first hand of the FT; it's folded around to him, people usually play tight right away at the FT until they see who's who and what's what. He might have A2s or even 23o if he's on a steal, since it's easier to lay down a steal with fecal matter. Maybe he wants to be seen as the aggressor at the FT. Maybe that's why he's all in here- he's saying don't F with me everyone or I'll put you all in and make you make a decision for all your chips- but I doubt that he'd do that with the other big stack.

But if he had a big pair or a set, and he hit the flop which contains two flush cards, he's going to want to take down the pot now instead of letting another flush card come. He might also want to take the pot down now with Ad Kd - he's putting you on an overpair or smaller ace and doesn't want to have to hit his flush or his overcards.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

IMO, given the stack sizes of you and villain relative to remaining players, there is an argument for a pre-flop fold. Having said that, I would call pre-flop for the obv set value. Against this player, I check the flop. For the reason that I do not want to make a decision for all my chips with 10/10. THe texture of the flop is very good for your hand and a brick turn would improve your holdings and reduce the likelihood that you see major action on 4th. If you do, you can decide where you are then.

Further, if you are up against AK/KQ (not suited diamonds), you are way ahead, and against AKd with brick turns and rivers you can get full value here.

FWIW, I play QQ/KK/AA exactly the way you see the villain's action. I might also play AKd this way. I may just call with a set. All depends on my read on you.

I believe you are facing a very strong hand here. At minimum, a flush draw with over cards has you 51.3/48.7. You are a 10/90 dog to every likely holding. The only hand you are heavy favorite to is an underpair. I very rarely see a good player, with a major chip advantage at a full final table, risk all his chips against the other large stack unless he has the goods.

I would fold to his allin.

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

looks more like stubborn AK AQ than anything else to me

Re: First hand at the Final Table - Clash of the Big Stacks
 

why not reraise before flop? See where you are at. I think you played the tens to weak.