SNG / NL Full

Medium suited ace in the SB with big stacks limping, bubble of a SNG

DailyHandQuiz

Game type: $33 no limit single table SNG
Stage of tourney: Bubble
Avg stack: 3375
Your image: A little tight
Opponent’s image:
Your hand: A♠T♠

The setup: You’ve coasted into the final four of this online poker sit and go, with the two players to your right doing the heavy lifting so far.

This hand, you’re dealt a suited AT in the SB. UTG, who has been a little goofy with his stack, limps, and the button limps as well. The button has been playing solid poker.

What’s your play? If you fold, what’s the minimum hand you’d need to raise?

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21 COMMENTS  (Jump to comment form)

DHQ Staff
2.14.08 / 1pm

If you choose to shove, I don’t like your fold equity here. I think there’s a decent chance you’ll be looking at a three-way pot if you shove.

I also don’t like folding a hand this strong, especially not with the price you’re getting.

That leaves calling, which is a little bit of a drag, but it’s the least of all evils in this spot. It’s unlikely that the BB will shove without something stronger, and you have a shot at flopping a decent hand.

What actually happened: You folded and the BB checked. The flop came 3s 9d Qd. The BB and UTG checked and the button bet. Both players folded.

5types
4.18.08 / 12am

I dont think you have a 3-way pot if you shove. At worst I think youre heads-up, and hopefully that pays off.

PFLion
4.18.08 / 12am

I disagree with the staff, both the big stacks arent getting 2-1 on their money, shove in and they need to call 1420 to win 2620, so there is enough fold equity. If the UTG has been playing goofy calling another 1400 is unlikely unless he has a real hand, as that would really chunk out his stack, the other solid big stack’s range is somewhat wide due to him being solid and trying to play a drawing hand against a looseish player, so his range is very unlikely to be AJ+ here. so shoving on the shorter stack with a strong ace is a profitable situation here imo.

drhoho
4.18.08 / 5am

I went with the staff on this one.

Mr goofy migth be likely fold often, but not BTN. There is a big chance that you will be flipping vs a pocket pair, QJs or the like, besides they migth be trapping with great hands. On the bubble you cant win, only loose.

With another shortstack in on the bubble, I play it safe and just complete the blind. I see no reason to fold at this price. If there was no other shortie I would stick it all in.

I think I only shove with 99+ AQ+ at max. At least these hands are often better than flipping vs random broadways, medium Aces and smallish pocket pairs that Btn limps.

Mortal76
4.18.08 / 8am

With this type of setup, I’m pushing. Mostly to push out the limpers, but also, hopefully, this will, at best, allow you to steal a pot that would put you back in a very comfortable position coming up on the button. At worst, you’re in a coin flip against an under pair. Judging by the description, I’m not putting either of the other two players on Aces, so with my suited over card, I’m pushing.

mcippolito
4.18.08 / 8am

I’m gonna strongly disagree with the staff here. Like someone else said, all your opponents are getting worse than 2 to 1 odds to call a shove, and I think your hand may likely be strongest. I’m only concerned with the UTG caller who could be trapping.

Additionally, the pot represents two thirds of your stack (which is only 5 BB), and while there is another small stack you could try to wait out, I think this is an ideal spot to pickup a lot of chips and put the other small stack in position for 4th.

Sted Ruckus
4.18.08 / 10am

SHOVE. A10 suited, it ain’t the best hand, but its better than most. Considering the limp action, I assume I am holding the best 2 cards at the moment. And I agree with many people, who said you’ll get one caller, not two.

You can’t limp in here, out of position. If you miss the flop, you will lose the pot.

No choice but to get it all in and see all 5 cards.

ngmcs8203
4.18.08 / 11am

If you don’t shove here you’re going to be blinded out and forced to play a less than optimal hand. Push hoping to get called by small suited connectors or small pair and suck out to take down the big pot.

Zot95
4.18.08 / 11am

Shove.

I think it unlikely that you’ll face 2 players here. Remember, if UTG calls your raise it does not close the action - he has the button to worry about. I think a good portion of the time, UTG either folds or reraises to isolate.

There is a lot of money in the pot. If you do get both these players to fold, you will nearly double up. If you get one of these players to call (and you win) you will nearly triple up. Despite the bubble, this seems like a very advantageous position.

Anonymous
4.18.08 / 12pm

r

Jonny
4.18.08 / 1pm

Folding equity and pot odds don’t matter here.

Although you have a bigger stack than the BB you’ll go bust first if neither of you finds a hand because you always have to pay the next BB before him.

If either of these ‘action’ players had a hand they’d be raising. At $300 a bet they could hurt each other badly if it goes to the river.

Get your chips in here and if you’re called you’ll be ahead. If not, you were going out next anyway.

Shove.

Matty D
4.18.08 / 3pm

Unless both big stacks are limping with premium hands, I don’t see that there’s a chance it gets to a three-way pot. With blinds as big as they are, it’s practically now or never.

Keith Harris
4.18.08 / 9pm

I agree that you probably have a three-way pot since pot odds are so juicy if you shove but when you’re so short you’re 5x the BB it’s time to take your chances. Shove and hope you get to double or triple up. or you can blind yourself out waiting for a pp or ak

Billy
4.19.08 / 12am

With blinds this high, there’s really no reason for a player to be limping with any hand other than AA or KK. In any case, KK still only leaves you a 70:30 dog. There’s really no way in my mind you’re up against anything other than QK/JT/KT/QJ/Ax weaker than AT. Push, who cares if its a 3 way pot.

Billy
4.19.08 / 12am

oh, and folding is by far the dumbest choice you could make. all this talk about pot odds, and you’re not willing to complete the big blind?? yeah, id fold with 8:1 odds with a suited AT too… ? (sarcasm intended)

drhoho
4.19.08 / 2am

It seems to me that a lot of people are not considering the significance of a bubble in a SnG. I dont doubt that it is +chipsEV to shove, but I really dont think it is +$EV. In a MTT tour, it is a shove, as the bubble is a small step compared to the top prices. In a SnG, getting ITM is the first priority.

We are told that UTG has been goofy with his stack, indicating that perhaps he would do something as stupid as limp-folding. But in that case the clever guy with the big stack is surdenly going to call, and that with a range you are usually flipping against. So by shoving here, your tournament life will be but on stake every single time. I would almost prefer to give up AT and then openshove T7o the next hand, as there is more FE.

I could be mistaking. I hope opi has something clever to say.

Rondleman
4.19.08 / 7pm

I think that it is both +cEV and +$EV, IMO… the pot currently contains 2/3 of our stack, and we have an M of around 3.5 (a little over 5BB).

If the button has a solid hand, why would he just limp here? I think he would try to raise himself, as if he is solid then he must also see that UTG is playing oddly, and picking up the blinds + the UTG limp with a raise is a great outcome for him. There’s no reason for him to think that Hero or the BB would play back, and limping would allow UTG to connect with a seemingly-innocuous flop in a big way.

To me, the button call is a mediocre hand that he is hoping to play against UTG cheaply. That’s not to say that he would fold if we shoved, but I would expect to see a hand like 66 or KQs from the button, which I’ll gladly take with the extra bets from the BB and UTG to sweeten. Definite shove for me.

Side Note: Even though we’re on the button and not the short stack, we might as well be since we are so close to the BB’s stack, so we really have no advantage in trying to hold on for 3rd.

mynutsrfull
4.20.08 / 3pm

on full tilt big stack win 80 % its rigged may as well fold

Chad Gerson
4.20.08 / 8pm

You have 5 BB remaining and ATs is a pretty decent hand. You are likely ahead at this point. Shove.

JB
5.2.08 / 2pm

Considering the two limps short handed you could be up against any hand. A 10 is an above average hand therefore you should shove. Chances are you have the best hand. The blinds are worth stealing and hopefully one will call you with a marginal hand.

James Freeman
5.19.08 / 9pm

Im going to go with folding. Im all for getting complicated action between the other players when its short handed like that. Dump it, and let’em scrap it out. Instead of making a complicated, and possible risky decision. Its obviously gonna be a ishy situation anyway it goes down. Its gamble’n time! Unless ya can put him on a hand preflop, then maybe I get involved. I like to watch my opponents play the compicated hands, and hope they go to war!

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