88 in SB.... squeeze?
 

My image is very solid/tight. I've only shown down AA and KK twice. Villian1 has been raising a bit, but not maniacal. Villian2 is new to table. It is evident that the shortie BB is sitting out. We are ~100 players from the money. What's the best way to play here?

Play safe and just call and hope to hit a set?
-or-
Reraise to 2100 or so... what if that gets called... what do you do on particular flops?
-or-
Reraise all in?

FullTiltPoker Game #4170246596: Midnight Madness!
120/240 Ante 25
Seat 1: (4,175)
HERO SB (6,335)
BB (405), is sitting out
Seat 4: (8,540)
Seat 5: (4,245)
Villian 1: (5,677)
Villian 2: (3,675)
Seat 8: (12,849)
Seat 9: (2,275)


*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO in SB [8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]]
2 folds, villian1 raises to 700, villian2 calls 700, 3 folds, HERO ???

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

I'm going to reraise to about 2,800 here.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

How do you play various flops if that RR is just called? Your stack will be ~ the size of the pot. All rag flops? Axx flops? Kxx flops? Broadway flops? just to name a few... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

I'm probably shoving most of the flops. Do you advocate just calling preflop or shoving? My first choice is a normal raise, but I think my second choice would be calling and hoping to flop a set.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

Call, you're getting 4.3:1 plus implied odds to hit your set. Stack is solid enough to not go gaga over this hand. If you do decide to raise, and are called, you now have a stack just over 1/2 of what the pot would be, OOP and feeling very committed.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Call, you're getting 4.3:1 plus implied odds to hit your set. Stack is solid enough to not go gaga over this hand. If you do decide to raise, and are called, you now have a stack just over 1/2 of what the pot would be, OOP and feeling very committed.

[/ QUOTE ]

check/fold anything but a set?

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

I wouldn't say anything but a set, but I'd have to see a board. If the flop is something like J 5 2, I'd consider leading with a probe of 800-1000 or so. If its lower than an 8, I'd still consider leading, though a bit more, because c/r seems a bit expensive in this spot.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

I think this is quite an easy raise/push.

If you raise, I think about 2,5-3k is a good ammount, so you can easily push any flop.

The other possibility is to push right now.

I don't like the idea of calling 88 oop with 16TBBs left, as if you don't hit your set there is hardly any flop you can play multiway.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

Calling is okay & definitely +EV, but I don't think it's optimal.
I think this is a clear shove. The pot is 1400+blinds+antes & you have 6.3K & villians are even shorter! Raising less than a push isn't particularly good. I think this is a clear squeeze with 88 - I'm hoping to pick up the pot uncontested but I'm doing pretty well if I get called as well.

Re: 88 in SB.... squueze?
 

Calling is fine here. Usually I'm looking for a stack of 10x the raise amount (with both, my stack and villain's stack) to get the odds to play for a set.
Both villains have a stack lower than 7000, but since it's a multiway pot, hero still gets odds to make this a +EV call.

I also like the raise ... but once you raise, you have to go with it. So either push right here or raise to 2000-3000 and shove any flop.

I would go for a 2500 raise and a shove on the flop, as this would give villains a chance to fold bigger PPs because of overcards or fold 2 unimproved picture cards.