ITH Poker Forum

[cowboyinexile]

Nothing too interesting about this game-I had played well, but taken a couple of beats. Villain was decent but not outstanding. This hand pretty much played itself. I get into a race situation in a turbo SNG and the coin flips tails, which happens.

My question though, is there any way to justify not shoving here? As short as I was, I don't see another alternative. However, if I had an M of 9, would a smaller raise be better here?


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 3.4 Tournament, 75/150 Blinds (9 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 (t3160)
MP1 (t1225)
Hero (MP2) (t953)
MP3 (t1020)
CO (t1185)
Button (t1350)
SB (t3195)
BB (t980)
UTG (t1932)

Hero's M: 4.24

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, K
UTG calls t150, 2 folds, Hero bets t953 (All-In), 5 folds, UTG calls t803

Flop: (t2131) 6, 6, 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (t2131) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (t2131) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: t2131

[nsidestrate]

super-standard.

[chrisjp]

You have to shove here, and want to. With an M=9 I would make a standard raise. It is true that AK is much better with folding equity but with m=9 and this strong of a hand you don't mind going for the double. And you aren't close to the bubble.

Chris

[darvon]

You have to shove here, and want to. With an M=9 I would make a standard raise. It is true that AK is much better with folding equity but with m=9 and this strong of a hand you don't mind going for the double. And you aren't close to the bubble.

Chris

OK. With M=9 (i.e. about 1900 in chips) you would bet $675? UTG is chip leader, if he reraised you would fold? This is close enough that pushing to isolate would kick in for me, even with 1900 in chips. Since UTG is chip leader and this table is still 9 handed with everone in the 66%-200% of starting stack phase, it would seem that the table is only betting strength and that UTG may be slowrolling and will re-raise.

So does standard raising make your subsequent bets easier or harder? I thought major point of proper betting was to simplify downstream decisions.

[chrisjp]

Oops, my mistake darvon. There is an ep limper.

With the ep limper now I push with 1900 yes. If there were no limper and I'm first to act I would raise to 375. I don't always push to simplify things although push/fold is a good strategy if you are uncertain; I push because it's correct. AK wants to see all five cards so it is often the correct strategy to push at a one-table or a final table. But it depends upon the circumstances. My tipping point to push v not to push, in this instance, would be a little more than 2000. If I had 2200 I would make it about 600 after the limper. I don't want to push some villain off of AQ by making too large of a raise. But also, if I put more than 1/3 of my stack into the middle, then I have to call a push. So the better option, to limit villain's options to call or fold, is to push in this case.

If I have 2200 and raise to 600 the villain may think he has folding equity v me, since I have left myself folding room ala the "1/3" rule. He might try to push me off my 3bet with AQ. It's kind of a cat and mouse. Of course you can get into psychology and push AK with 2200. Villain may put you on a weaker range since you pushed--and call with AQ. It's a bad call IMO, but he might do it thinking you have JT or KQ and are crazy. That's poker.

Chris

[darvon]

At 2200 I would try to split the BB by raising to about 450. If you make it too high then it makes it too valuable for BB to push, or would you try to make him Push and knock out UTG or at least size UTG up before you have to go?

[chrisjp]

I'm never folding AK here with this stack/blind ratio. I'd prefer to play heads up naturally but i'm not letting him call that cheaply by betting less when i only have Ace high.

Chris