Played brilliantly throughout this tourney, got it heads up where I had about 7K in chips, but after about twenty minutes of heads-up, I have lost a bit of my lead, and then we have this hand.

Preface - my opponent has been very aggressive throughout the tourney, and even more so when heads-up. If he was the bring-in, he would bet the maximum (as opposed to just bringing it in) regardless of his holdings. If I was the bring-in and bet the minimum, he would raise if he was going to play, or fold. He didn't waver once that I was able to see. I came over the top of his raise 2 or 3 times, with him folding every time. Blinds are so high right now, once you pick a hand, its up to the card gods. Did I make a mistake by raising on third? Should I have just called to see 4th and then fodled if caught bad?

Stage #381103210 Tourney ID 1080826 Seven Card Single Tournament Normal $1500/$3000 - 2006-04-18 16:59:54 (ET)
Table: 1478929 (Real Money)
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD ($5367.16 in chips)
ROCKETWAD - Ante $225
Seat 3 - ULFUS ($5132.84 in chips)
ULFUS - Ante $225
*** 3rd STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [As 2h 7d]
ULFUS - Pocket [H H 3h]
ULFUS - Bets $1500
ROCKETWAD - Raises $3000 to $3000
ULFUS - Calls $1500
*** 4TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [As 2h 7d Qc]
ULFUS - Pocket [H H 3h 6c]
ROCKETWAD - Checks
ULFUS - Bets $1500
ROCKETWAD - All-In(Raise) $2142.16 to $2142.16
ULFUS - All-In $407.84
ROCKETWAD - returned ($234.32) : not called
*** 5TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [As 2h 7d Qc Kh]
ULFUS - Pocket [6d 7s 3h 6c 10c]
*** 6TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [As 2h 7d Qc Kh 10s]
ULFUS - Pocket [6d 7s 3h 6c 10c 8s]
*** RIVER ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [As 2h 7d Qc Kh 10s Kc]
ULFUS - Pocket [6d 7s 3h 6c 10c 8s 3d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ROCKETWAD - Shows [As 2h 7d Qc Kh 10s Kc] (One pair, kings)
ULFUS - Shows [6d 7s 3h 6c 10c 8s 3d] (Two Pair, sixes and threes)

Calling here would likely have been the better play and then getting out on 4th. Heads up in a stud 8 or better is really a lot of times no more than just straight 7 stud and a lot of people will play it as such. If your going to play a hand with low possibilities, you need to play it pretty much the same as if you were in the other stages of the tourney as chasing is just going to cost you. The one exception is that if you start out with 3 low cards and then improve on high, you can proceed depending on the circumstances and opponent board as naturally 2 or 3 handed High hand values go up tremendously.

My opinion is to fold this on 4th and definately on 5th as you had a longshot straight draw, longshot low draw with no pair. Also your opponent on 5th and definately 6th knew you were on a high draw likely and was going to play the last card to try and catch low or try and get trips or a 2nd pair.

You made the right play. I really don't think there's much strategy in hi-lo stud when neither player has more than 2 big blinds. You have a premium hand and raise third, and once he calls, you are committed to play for all the chips.