This is my first post on the forum, but I have been perusing the site for a few weeks. Over the last couple weeks, my buddies and I have been going to Tunica for a couple days at a time. The last two trips have been very kind to me, especially this past trip. I made out very well at the cash games playing $1/2 NL, $2/4, $3/6 and $4/8.

After playing in some of the cash games for a few hours, me and a friend decided to register for the Grand's $100+$20 NL Hold 'em tournament. Luckily, we were able to secure the last two seats. My buddy had won one of these tournaments a couple weeks ago, so I was eager to dive into the action and get my feet wet.

There are two hands I would like to discuss. With twice as many chips (probably more, say around 12k) than anyone at the table and with the blinds at 200/400, I looked down at 9c 9s on the button. The player UTG raised making it 1600 to go, and everyone folded to me. I called the raise putting him on two big cards, probably AK, AQ. The flop came Jh, 8d, 2c and he immediately said "all-in". I thought this was too big of a bet for the size of the pot. I studied him for a few seconds and finally was convinced that he was holding AK. I called 3500 more. He flipped over AK and I showed my two 99's. The turn card was a K, and the river was a brick. Now, given this situation, blinds, and read would you have risked 33% of your stack to call here?

The second hand is one I think I misplayed, and was the root cause for me going bust. I'm in the big blind with the blinds at 400/800. Everyone folds to the button who makes it 1600 to go. This guy had been stealing blinds when he had position, so I was anxious to see what I had. I looked down at Ad Kd. I didn't want to just call here and let him outdraw me, and he had a decent stack in front of him, so I wanted to put him to the test. I went all-in (I had him covered plus some) and he immediately calls. (I think he might have been steaming at me from an earlier pot where I cracked his aces) He turns over 2c 2d and hit a set on the turn, crippling my stack. How would you have played this here?

Looking back, I probably should have raised his bet and seen a flop. But I thought he was on a steal, and he kinda was, but I just didn't understand how he could have called in that situation. At best, he is 50/50 because he has to assume I have two overcards. Oh well, it's my fault for playing that aggressive with it. Sorry if the post ran a little long, but I would appreciate your feedback/advice.

Regards,
DD

Seeing a flop wouldn't have changed the outcome since if you would have seen an A on the flop, you would have went all-in for sure and still lost to the set.

Its a coin toss on his call but how many times have small pocket pairs held up to AQ, AK, etc. More than I want to recall. Of course, the only time he could really play 22 is preflop unless he catches a set as he did here or you let him hang around till the turn with small bets or checks.

I think you played both of your hands just fine. The first one you played it perfect. Same thing happened to me one time. The second one you could of just raised him, he'd probably go all in anyway because he's a reckless player. Sure there's a chance that he would call and you could outplay him. But with 1600 bet and I'm guessing you have 10,000 then I'd go all in.

The first hand, I think I would have laid down the 9-9 after the BB got raised by 4 times in early position. I don't know... I would have put him on JJ or something so on the flop I would have folded. 4-5XBB in early position stinks of JJ. Wouldn't put him on AK with a bet of 4XBB... why would he do that?

I would have folded pre-flop but since you didnt I would have folded on the flop... oh wait, you didnt do that either. lol.

Second hand I don't understand why you moved all in pre-flop?? You had him covered... why not just re-raise for value?

I don't understand why he over-valued his 22 here. He called all in pre-flop with a shitty hand. 22 is a slight favorite to two overcards and is a dog to any other pair. I believe 3 to 1 dog. This must have been one stupid/drunk person.