PS $4/180 - AK in BB, 2 different scenarios
 

First hand is the 2nd hand of the tourney. No reads on anyone.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) internettexasholdem.com

CO (t1440)
Button (t1480)
SB (t1300)
Hero (t1500)
UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1780)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+1 calls t20, MP1 calls t20, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, CO calls t20, Button calls t20, SB completes, Hero ??.


Second hand, I had been at this table for 1 orbit, not too close to bubble, UTG and MP3 both seem pretty solid, Button just moved to table this hand.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (9 handed) internettexasholdem.com

MP3 (t7190)
CO (t3860)
Button (t2100)
SB (t1245)
Hero (t3085)
UTG (t2025)
UTG+1 (t4355)
MP1 (t3260)
MP2 (t1385)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG calls t100, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t300</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to t2100</font>, <font color="#666666">SB foldsHero ??.

I have difficulty with these decisions. Both cases there is one or more to act after me, which has me wondering what is the more +EV play.

This first hand, is a push good here, try to take it down and/or hopefully isolate to one other player? Limp in and play after the flop? Raise, and if so how big of raise with 5 others already in the pot, and then I will be playing out of position the rest of the hand? Insta-fold?

The second one, I'm in about the middle of the remaining field, with 2 seemingly solid players behind me to act, and no read on the Button pushing all in. Do you risk it all right here, or pick a better spot to get your chips in.

I also realize this is a $4/180, with people making wild plays left and right.

Re: PS $4/180 - AK in BB, 2 different scenarios
 

Hand 1: Either check or raise it to 100. Reevaluate on the flop.

Hand 2: Tough decision. I would probably fold.

Re: PS $4/180 - AK in BB, 2 different scenarios
 

Hand 1 I would probably push and hope someone looks me up, it "looks like" a steal to a mediocre player and he might decide to play with a weaker ace. With 5 players in pot you could also raise to like 200 but I think I prefer a push.

Hand 2 I would fold, at least 3 players like their hand and none of them seem like idiots thus far.