Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t75/t150
8 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: t1270
UTG+1: t2655
MP1: t3235
MP2: t1115
Hero: t1985
Button: t1435
SB: t5815
BB: t2920

Pre-flop: (8 players) Hero is CO with A Q
UTG raises to t450, 3 folds, Hero ????


UTG hasn't really been active at all... has played 17% of his hands with no aggression.

Don't say that you suck, i don't think this is an obvious no brainer.


In fact, i have no idea what the best play is.

I'd probably shove FWIW though.

I don't think flat call here is an option, UTG is committing 1/3 of his stack on a preflop raise so unless he was a total donk and check a missed flop, I would guess he was going shove any flop. If you had a deeper stack is when I would flat call this and hope to flop a piece and gamble.

I think options are either fold or shove. 12ish big blinds is not much to work with but you are behind the button and have time to find a better spot.

If this tourney was only a few dollars I'd just push - Micro stakes tournies around the first hour AQ is a monster - just my experience, lots of fishies will call with just about anything -

If it was a couple hours into the tourney I'd fold.

I like a shove, but I might flat call to see a flop with position. It really depends on whether I expect to see a squeeze play from button if I call. Shove is certainly the simpler option, and gets you out of any tough decisions. Come to think of it, I think shove is clearly best here.

I think that I flat with position - with your read of UTG and the fact that he put in 1/3 of his stack, you have little or zero FE. Get it all in if the flop hits you. I doubt anyone will come over the top of an UTG raiser who put in 1/3 of his stack without a real hand as that would not be the spot for a squeeze play.

I hate flat calling. I probably fold. You're likely to be behind just about every hand he's raising there (I can't see that he's raising AJ there really), and with no dead money it's not a great situation.

I don't hate a shove here, but my play is most of the times folding in this spot. He's calling you if you shove for sure unless he's a real fool. You are up for a race as best.