BB Special - How to Play

[Popped Rod]

Live MTT, $120 Buy-in, Turbo Freeze Out (138 players starting, 73 runners left, payout starts at 18)

Relavent Stacks/Reads- (Not too much info,just moved to this table 4 hands ago).

Button - t25k, just doubled up on a suckout when he pushed 2 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in CO against MP black 8's. Two hearts on the flop and running hearts on Turn and River.

SB - t15k, Retiree/Rock type. Haven't seen much from him since I sat down.

BB (Hero) - t38k, I've been mixing my play up but generally have been TAG.

Blinds 500/1000, no antes

Folded to Button who raises standard 3x t3000.
SB minraises to t6000.
Hero checks hole cards and finds A [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

What's the standard line here?

A. Smooth call and hope LAGGY button pushes?

B. Reraise to t15-18k to isolate SB, who I put on KK/QQ?

C. Push all-in and take down a pot that is already 30+% of my stack?

[flettl2]

I'd call. For one, the LAGGY player may realize there's a reraise and a call, so he can try the squeeze play and get both of you to fold. If he just calls, and you put SB actually on a big hand like KK/QQ, your gonna get paid off on the flop from him because it will usually come small cards since you and him have most of the AKQ's. The think is with the SB having an M of only 10, if you rereaise he's coming with you with KK/QQ. So the extra money you're trying to get is from the Button, who won't give you any if you push or rereraise.

[Acein8ter]

Option B for me, if your going to play your AA, play it HU, not 3 way.

2nd choice is to push...

I'd smooth call if the SB folded...

[BarryLyndon]

Push, and it's not even close.

Raising to 12K or to 15K is basically announcing "I have AA, come join me, Mr. button." Button is not calling that. Calling sucks because it's 3-way and if an A or K hits, you are gonna scare one or both players. Pushing, OTOH, puts your range wider than you think. You will get QQ/JJ to come along for the ride anyway because he may very well think you have AK. I don't think you are getting another cent from the button, but SB is a juicy target after his miniraise and you should really look to commit him preflop without announcing a teaser for the button.

Barry

[KidSensation]

Agreed^^^. Just shove.

[donquay]

Push for the reasons as laid out by Barry.

Button should know that SB's raise might as well have been a push because it' leaves enough behind for a 3/4 pot flop shove (ie. he's playing for his stack)...as a result unless he woke up otb with a legitimately strong hand you're likely not getting anything more from him anyway...just push and get SB in preflop and maybe button sees the shove as isolating because your hand isn't so strong.

[[Phill]]

Either call or shove, dont make any super fishy half your stack raise.

Sometimes ill mix it up and do either given the right situation, but shoving is super standard for me.

If the opener is a total donk then calling to induce action is fine, but he has to be totally brain dead.

[plzleenowhammy]

i think in live play raising to 15-18 looks weaker than shoving. I'd shove online but not live.

[gobboboy]

I re-wager.

The minimum.

[gobboboy]

It doesn't really matter what you do. The SB has a big hand he's never folding, so you might as well jam right now.