AJs, 5 left of 125, $30 BossMedia

[grasiu]

5 left of 125 players. Typicall payout structure. Big raise in payouts from 3rd spot.

Not much reads on Villain. He was playing usually quite straightforward, but with rare ununderstandable moves (donky raise / meare call). 2BB would seem like maybe blind steal, 3BB raise shows he *probably* has sth, but rather not a monster.


***** Hand 652272840 *****
1000.00/2000.00 Texas Hold'em (No Limit) - Friday, June 15, 2007 5:47:02 PM
Texas Holdem (Real/Tournament)
Seat 3: Button (72595.00)
Seat 4: HERO SB (18492.00)
Seat 5: BB (16195.00)
Seat 6: UTG (47180.00)
Seat 8: VILLAIN CO (32038.00)
HERO post SB 1000.00
BB post BB 2000.00

** Deal **
HERO [A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]]

*** Preflop ***
UTG Fold
VILLAIN CO Raise to 6000.00
Button Fold
HERO SB Call 6000.00
BB Fold

*** Flop *** [10[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 10[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]] Pot 15000.00
HERO Check
VILLAIN Bet 6000.00
HERO ??


I feel bad in this hand, though I have not much idea how to play it right. I have (a not strong) feeling that he has a small pair that he won't fold to preflop all-in. To fold AJs while I have 9xBB in stack seems bad. To call bad. To push preflop maybe best, but I feared to get knocked out...

What should I have done?
Any comments apprieciated.

[umistboy]

Surely with 18k in the SB (so 17k left) you need to push or foldf here. Calling even if you stop and go isn't the best move as you can triple his bet and get the fold often.

Calling to check is awful really.

Don't worry about getting knocked out. You are better off folding than just calling if you are scared that he will still call but I would definitely push here.

You've said the payouts get much steeper for 2nd and 1st - PLAY TO WIN!

[RyanUSF]

You have to push here, you're calling out of position for 1/3 of your stack. You have a good hand here, your M is low (5.83), and chances are you are way ahead. Pushing here will most likely take down the pot uncontested. Play to win, not to make 3rd place.

[mariachiinc]

You really can't call at this stage of the tournament. With your stack, just shove all in.

[SuperUberBob]

Agree with the majority here. Insta-shove.

But now that you've seen the flop, you have to call and hope villain is bluffing.