Small edge enough to call?

[T_Mar]

A general question which is brought about from a  hand I played recently related to playing online MTT's and what kind of edge  do you need to put your tourny life on the line.  This is not a complex hand (far from it) and all action is pre flop but I been thinking about it alot for some reason.

Its 30rebuy on FT, 18k Prizepool.  I have ~15k (about average)  with between 60-70 left.

UTG is shortstack with 2.5k, I am UTG+2, SB has ~18k

UTG shoves it in, I flat call with 99 and and then SB shoves AI, leaving me a decision for tourny life.

The sb here appears to be the crazy cat at the table pushing AI several times in last couple orbits forcing people to fold, over betting the pot pretty much every time he see's a flop and has shown some pretty marginal hands down.

I think he shoves here with any 2 face cards, or any pair... I fully expect him to have to overcards to my 99 here meaning I'm a slight fav if I call. 

1. Is this an insta call? (will be on 30k if I win a probable race and in the top 5 left in the tourny)
2. Should I be shoving in rather than flat calling the UTG shove to isolate this player and thus forcing a fold from marginal hands (despite being in ep with plenty left to act)

I'm trying to work out whether I'd be right to take small edges like this in order to get big stack or whether I shouldn't even contemplate putting my life on line and look for 'better spots'.

Apologies if this isn't particularly ground breaking but would appreciate peoples views.

Ta 
 

[Grier78]

I think your flat call of the all-in looks a bit weak and the aggressive player has tried to take advantage of you, but unfortunately you don't have enough info to go on to make the call. If you had of made an isolation raise then it would have been much harder for the SB to come over the top and if he does then you can give him a bit more credit of actually having a hand.

The factors I think you need to think about before making this call are how close is the bubble, how many times the BB do I have and are there plenty of weak players around that you can take advantage of (have an edge over).
For example you are two away from the bubble, you have 40xBB and the average is 20xBB then this is a clear fold. If you are four away from the bubble and you have 8xBB then get your chips in (first).

Hope this helps.

[AlexMartin]

its a fold.

[Royal Flush]

I think he shoves here with any 2 face cards, or any pair... I fully expect him to have to overcards to my 99 here meaning I'm a slight fav if I call. 

1. Is this an insta call? (will be on 30k if I win a probable race and in the top 5 left in the tourny)

You have an edge in an overlayed pot, err snap call.

I'm trying to work out whether I'd be right to take small edges like this in order to get big stack or whether I shouldn't even contemplate putting my life on line and look for 'better spots'.
 

You should take this as its not a small edge its a pretty big one.

20k in there already and you have to call 12.5 to win it with a 55% lead in the hand (against the range you gave)

Would you fold and the next hand get it in with AK vs AQ? Its basically the same situation.

[T_Mar]

Thanks for the replies,

FWIW I did call and was flipping against AJ, UTG had 22

Is flatting the original raise ok, or do you think its better to isolate the utg player?? I didn't like this at the time with so many people left to act but thought I was inviting trouble by flatting when thinking about it afterwards.

thks