PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t800 (3 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FCP)

Button (t5120)
SB (t12405)
Hero (t9475)

Preflop: Hero is BB with T , T .
Button raises to t5070, SB raises to t9340, Hero ?

We've been 3-handed for about 10 - 12 hands now. Most of the hands have gone raise preflop, fold, fold. I can't remember a hand that actually saw a flop. SB is a all in or fold preflop player for the most part, fairly tight. Button is a bit more passive, but not loose by any means. VPIPs are at about 20% for SB, and 30 - 35% for Button (I didn't have PT open at this moment, this is purely off observational guesstimates).

Payouts are standard 18-man SNG. 1st gets 40%, 2nd 30%, 3rd 20%, 4th 10%.

I get it in most of the time, their ranges are really large, you probably have the best hand. You might even have some lower PPs crushed.

Only time I dont get it in is if Im confident I can outplay both opponents

I fold for two reasons. One is prior action. The fact that this is the first contested pot means you are likely a coin flip, or possibly crushed. The second is the payout structure. Each step up the pay scale earns you 10% of the prize pool. This is pretty flat, and means if you can move up by folding and having the big stack take out the shortie, you can lock up more cash, and play (as a dog) for the final 10% of the prize.

Of course, I dont hate a call here.

Not sure if you considered this but if the bigstack won the hand, I'd still go out in 2nd place. I think that's one of the major reasons to advocate a call in this situation (not saying I think calling is correct, just that maybe this wasn't considered).

I find it interesting the big stack took the time to raise (essentially) exactly the amount of our chip stack.. Do we read that as strong or weak? I'd imagine if he was strong, he'd call the shortie and then shove the flop, hoping we got a piece of it.

His overbet may likely signal a PP lower than our Tens, in which we'd definitely want to get involved. Tough spot. I think you may need to play for the tournament here. IF the bigger stack has a smaller PP, unless he hits his set (and you don't) you don't even come out that far behind in this pot.

Exactly. Get your chips in. The only terrible thing that can happen is if you lose to BOTH the button and the sb.

It's a minraise plus one notch/click.

JJ I definitely shove, 99 I probably fold.

I think I shove TT.

First, the big stack just hit "raise" (you can tell by the difference in the size of the raises) he wasn't trying to come up with exactly the number of chips. It's a coincidence except to the extent that he probably thought it would be enough to put the OP all in.

His "overbet" - and I am not sure what you mean by this unless you meant reraise - only means that he likes his hand and figures you're either gonna put them all in or not so why not just do it first. It's a low buyin SNG. These aren't world class players making moves that they've deliberated for hundreds of hours. So, I don't know that you can say its more likely he has a PP under TT than AK, AQ, QQ, JJ, etc. All you can really conclude, I think, is that he likes his hand and is willing to play for most of his chips.

To the OP: Personally, I'd call here. You've already made the money. If the BB has a bigger pair, he will likely bust you both and you'll finish second anyway. And, if you hit a set or if you have the BB beat, you have a big chip lead.

Yeah, by "overbet" I meant re-raise. The only point I was making is he's looking to isolate. If he held something massive he'd probably flat-call to entice you in.



I agree with this. I think TT is ahead of his range here, and even if we only beat the big-stack, we still come out even, with a decent shot at being a dominant CL if our hand holds/improves.