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

This is a hand from last night's $11 Single Rebuy/Add on Tourney and is the first hand a the final table. I had not played vs the villain all night but know that he is a fairly well known player from P5s (GB2005.) I am sure he does not know me at all.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t16000 (9 handed) converter

MP3 (t459088)
Hero (t476138)
Button (t278917)
SB (t127624)
BB (t133042)
UTG (t150334)
UTG+1 (t259557)
MP1 (t117710)
MP2 (t230090)

Preflop: Hero is CO with T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t48000</font>, Hero calls t48000, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>.

Flop: (t102400) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
MP3 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t64000</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t410288</font>, Hero ???

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

*Slips into skirt*

Fold this one. Even after dropping 100k, you're at twice the stack of most of the table. Granted he is probably capable of this with AK (or air for that matter), but there are way too many hands that beat you here.

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

I'd call this pretty quickly. If he has JJ+ he wants to get paid off right? Leading out will get him more money against pocket pairs. This line for him indicates that he is maximizing folding equity. I don't beleive him, and I'd definitely look him up here.

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

I would, too. This isn't JJ or 99, so he's got one of three big pairs, AK/AQs, or not much at all. He can also definitely have a 9 which gives him &lt; 6 outs. I think this is a call.

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

You know this is a really, really good question for those of us with limited FT experience.

First of all, I think I reraise preflop and see what goes down. My guess is he's on a blind steal and lays it down. But since you're here I'm asking myself does a better player than me (which is most) raise all in at the final table with a made hand or is he not wanting you to call?

I think his preflop range is just about any two for a steal. I think if he has pocket nines, he slow plays. If he has A2, an all in move is certainly a possibility.

I'm gonna call this cuz I want to cripple the biggest stack and end up with a HUGE chip lead myself. If he has JJ - AA or the deuce, well shucks.

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

Yeah, without reads, I can't find a fold here. It seems that this kind of massive overbet is a made hand a small % of the time. I'd think overs and/or a diamond draw, though I'd have bet out with either of those holdings. Bleh, a call at any rate.

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

I would like to reraise preflop, but the stack sizes are not good for it. A push is too big an overbet. Make a smaller reraise and what do oudo if he pushes.

I might checkraise the flop, but you get less information than the way you played it.

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

I close my eyes, hold my breath, and shove my chips in. You are probably ahead, but it really stinks when he flips over a higher pocket pair. This is a spot I need to work on in my game and I am curious to read all the posts. How did the hand turn out?

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

[ QUOTE ]
I might checkraise the flop

[/ QUOTE ] hero is in position


i go broke here and call it, doenst look like a real hand, more like a draw trying to maximise FE

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

I think you are seeing him playing back with 2 diamonds more times than not here. Maybe A9.
~Justin