Facing a raise from a short stack preflop deep in the PokerStars Sunday Million

Game type: No limit tournament, $500 buy in
Your image: Fairly aggressive
Stage of tourney: Down to the final 11
Avg stack: About 2.3 million
Misc notes:
Your hand: ??

This hand is based on game play from the final two tables of this week’s PokerStars Sunday Million. First prize is over 250k.

The Setup: You are down to the last 11 of a 2800 person field. You have an about average stack, but you’re in good shape for your table – all of the chips are on the other table.

UTG makes a standard raise and it folds to you on the button. What range of hands do you need to continue play and what’s your move with those hands?

4 COMMENTS (Jump to comment form)

Sam

We don’t really have a read on him, but the fact that he made a standard raise with a M of 7 instead of an all in move would have made me suspicious. I would have probably rereaised only with really strong aces (AK-AQ) or top pairs.
Calling seems a bad idea because you don’t want one of the blinds to get involved, either by calling because of the good odds, or by making a move with an all in raise.

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Matt Tag

His M is more like 5.4 with the antes, so he’s getting into dangerous territory – I’d take a shot with option #3 – he’s getting close to the point where he’s got to play any A/K/Q/J. I would probably raise to keep the blinds out, though (depending on my hand – I might smooth call with 78s).

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Dan L

I went with option #3 also. Specifically, I was thinking this: His range is A-8 or better, KQ, KJ, maybe QJ, and pairs 55 and up. I’m going to call with AJ, AQ, KQs and pairs 88 to 10-10. I’m raising with JJ and up and AK. I don’t think just calling here is that bad considering all the hands I’d do it with I think I can make a good decision on the flop about my strength and win a nice pot when I’m ahead, even if there are two opponents. As for one of the blinds going all in, I haven’t played in 500 buy in tourneys, so I’m not sure how likely this is here, but in 10-50 buy in tourneys this move would be very rare.

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drhoho

I dont really like the options.
I would not play a lot of aces at this point, only AK AQ and of course AA. With those, and of course KK, QQ and maybe JJ I would raise. A 10 and A J I would fold.
But I would call with most pairs and medium suited connecters.
I would guess that the shortstack from UTG has a decent hand, probably a decent hand like A 9+ or KJ+.
Rather than getting involved with a hand that is likely to be dominated by his hand, I would rather limp something he probably hasnt got. If my hand then seems good postflop, I will checkraise him for all of his chips. He has committed himself a lot betting almost 1/4 of his chips, and a continuation bet will cost him the rest. Take advantage of that.

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