blonde poker forum

Hi Guys,

Sorry I can't post the thread because it was in a live tournament.

I was playing in a £200 6 max Tournament at the weekend. Average stack was about 70k, I had 120k (3rd in chips). Top 5 Won money in a £10,000 prize pool, Although we had already agreed we would do a bubble for 6th. There was 9 left at this point, And my table was playing 5 handed.

A short stack Shoved for about 20k in First position, and the other Big stack at the table (stack of about 140k) Flat calls. I look down and I have Pocket 9s. Bearing in mind we are so close to the bubble what do you think is the right play here? I've asked numerous friends and they all seem to have very different opinions.

Let me know what you think and I will explain what happened next.

Thanks guys.

What was the blinds and anti's

It was 1000 , 2000 with an ante of 100. Cheers

60bb deep I might just fold this, other option to call and check it down or shove, checking it down only works if big stack is going to let you, and your often shoving here again a range your flipping with at best, you are unlikely to find much in his range he flatted with you dominate,

I agree, But Four Handed i think his range for calling off 20k Is much wider than calling for all his stack?

Hands like:  ATs
                 QK
                 AJ
                 5s??

So if i was to shove he would fold these hands i'm pretty sure.

Depends on the big stack. I get awfully suspicious when people don't isolate these days

It was 5 handed, don't think he flats those hands he raises to isolate, the flat is to bring you along for the ride, well that's how I would be playing in his shoes

Sorry 5 Handed.

I like your way of thinking, I saw it as He had a Marginal hand say AT.

So in my Situation you think Folding is right?

If you think he has a marginal hand then you shove which makes him fold, hopefully giving you a 2 to 1 flip.

With 60 bigs it's a nasty one but 5 handed I'd go with the shove.

Thanks for the advice.

I don't think i call in this spot, Nines are too vulnerable. Also i think it's too much of a strong hand 5 handed to fold.

So i decided the best move was to shove to isolate the short stack, Assuming the big stack folds (Which i was pretty sure he would at the time).

Any way the big stack sighs and says "Well, I suppose I have to call that too" and reluctantly put his stack in the middle.

The short stack flipped over  7h  7c , And the Big Stack  Ad  Kh against my  9s  9c .

At this point i felt pretty horrified i was actually flipping with my 60 / 70bb Stack, Although after he calls i feel this is as good as it could be i suppose.

Flop:  Kc  Jc  3c .. Still a sweat for him.

Turn:  2s

River  3s

And the big Stack takes the lot.

However i feel like Shoving in my position was best. i think i get rid of alot hands which im racing with and to be honest, although it might sound stupid I fold AK in his spot, as if he had shoved to isolate i would fold 9 s . Would you guys call in the big stacks shoes?

Cheers.

Yup.

Would've re-shipped initially though so you'd get to lay your 99 down and still be in.

Yeah I think it's bad play by him to just double call there. I'm always reshoving with AK there but if i had flatted i would have to fold AK, Once i've re shoved he must have a pretty good idea i have a reasonable size pair. And at that point the tables are turned as he is then racing at best. I think my re shove looks very strong, and 99 is the rock bottom of my range to reshove there. 88 or AQ i probably flat and hope to check it down. And if i do have AA or KK He is in terrible shape, although its a big lay down for him to make and I know most players wouldnt make it why would you call there and risk all your stack hoping to hit so close to the money. I shoved to isolate not get a call of course. But that's just my way of thinking. I know that a lot of players would massively disagree with folding AK there, and i don't have a problem with his call, I was just wandering how many people would also consider laying it down?

One of my Friends has made a similar lay down with AK in a televised final table. And I was discussing his fold saying how he can never fold AK there, But the more we discussed it i saw that he had thought about it in much more depth. He knows the other chap has a pair, He's worked for days (Or in my case the day) To get a nice healthy stack together. He's in a prime spot to win money, And then he's not about to flip for it all, That was my friends argument as to why he layed it down. AK at the end of the day is only Ace high until you hit.

However his final table was ten handed, Which makes a big difference of course. And in the guy who i was playing withs shoes i may still call.

+1

I'd probably go yuck, but let it go pretty easily, unless the other big stack was a bad fish.  By contrast I am never folding AK here.  I'd far rather get in 60 big blinds with AK than 99.

+1 AK plays much better than 99 v an unknown hand

Well call me a fish but i flat here.  ;hide;

Because you're near the bubble most players will make the 'cooperation' play and be happy to check the hand down unless they hit it pretty hard.If you get a flop you like you can make a small probe bet on the flop and if villain has missed he will almost certainly fold,leaving you hu with a ton of dead money in the pot.

Although it's quite a large portion of you're stack,you still have chips if you have to fold.