Down to about 30 players or so, #1 gets the Main Event seat, 2-5 get some money. I am in top 5 of chip stacks when this hand comes up.

Blinds are at $1K/2K and I believe the ante is 100.. can't remember for sure

I am up to just under 60K when I get a tough hand. I have A4 off and get a freebie flop from the BB with the SB and 3 others. It is 3 diamonds, nothing high. I have the Ace of diamonds and paired my 4. SB checks, I check, EP limper bets about third of the pot, and all others fold so I call.

Turn is a black queen IIRC. I check, guy bets half pot (8K into a 16K pot). I called, but in retrospect (like soon as I clicked the button I knew I screwed up), I should have made it 10K more to go as I felt sure he didn't have a queen and I had a draw to the nuts.

River is another blank. So, there is about 33K in the pot my opponent only has 18K left. I only bet 10K. He takes all of his time and calls... with unimproved pocket 7's to take down the pot.

Now, right away I knew I should have raised on the turn, probably enough to put him all-in at that point, and then I definitely should have gone all in on the river instead of only betting 10K.

I have discussed this hand with another player whom I respect, and they suggested a pot size raise on the flop or even pushing all in at that point.

Could use some input on the play in this hand and some suggestions on what I should have done. Had I taken the pot down, I would have been a decent sized chip leader, and a major chip leader at my table with nearly double the #2 guy.

I'd love a check/push on that turn. The 10k reraise is too weak. The best way to push someone off a hand is generally to put his tournament life at stake.


Flop play was fine to me as you would actually like to see if you can make your hand first.

I push on the turn instead of checking.

He has $26K after the flop betting and the pot has $16K. I don't want to give him the opportunity to push first. If I check the turn and he bets anything decent, then he's that much closer to being pot committed. I think there's a better chance of him folding if I push at the turn and if he calls, then I still have my outs.

Good point. Any sizeable bet he makes into the turn just about commits him.