Four Left:

Seat 1: 600k
Seat 2: 130k
Seat 3: 130k (Me)
Seat 4: 150k

Blinds are 8/16k.

I'm dealt A9 from button, standard raise and get reraised allin by Seat 1. He's just won a largeish pot to put him up to massive chip leader. Do I call here for all my chips? If I fold, I'm left in BB with 70k left. Fourth paid 2750, third 3550, second 5k odd. Before this hand started I reckon I was pretty much set for third or second, seat 2 was raising allin most hands. I know the philosophy play to win etc etc, but what do you guys think here. I'd just be interested in an opinion.

Cheers

Moved to Tourney Forum.

A9 (suited or not) is not a hand I want to get involved in at this point for my tourney life. I'd wait for a better spot.

4-handed? If he folds he has 70K with an M <3. He's already put half his chips into the pot, commiting himself, and the big stack could literally be raising with anything. This looks like a call.

Please push the first time you get the chance.

Bubble play, I think this hand is fold or push, leaning to fold with you in a tie for 2nd in chips. If table is tight than a raise smaller than standard may have same affect as a standard raise and giving you better fold equity if you don't like the repop.

Standard raise is just committing you to this hand.

I agree with previous poster. On bubble with stacks the way they are, I do not like to see A9. I think I would fold but depending on your table a push or a smaller than standard raise may do the trick.

The way you played, I think I have to call.

Yep. As played I think you have to call.

Thanks for the input. I called and he flipped AK so I was busted in fourth. In hindsight, I think that was a fold. I want to be messing with the smaller stack, not the big gun but hey live n learn .

Pushing when it's folded to you is absolutely the correct play. A9 is a decent favorite against a random BB hand, and you need to double to compete for first. If he folds you increase your stack by 20-25% (depending on antes).

It's not even close.

Our M is somewhere between 4 and 5 depending on antes.

Push when it's folded to you the first time.

Why are you even putting yourself in a spot where you have to make this decision? (After he reraises, I mean)

More times than not, we are way behind here, or even drawing dead. It maybe a weak tight fold, but I still fold and push the next hand folded to us. I prefer first in vig, I'm also a weak tight noob!

That's not to say a call isn't correct here either. I can see both sides to this one.

It's push or fold from the get-go, never mind about "standard" raises.

BTW, I'd give plenty t be in your position here...Haven't gone that deep in a significant tourney in ages...

Are you ever drawing dead preflop?
And i agree with Zach, just shove, the blinds are worth a lot here, A9 four handed is a favourite over 2 random hands and you need to take a shot to catch up with the CL anyway.

My experience with both live and online tourneys are this.. When a player has been hot and just won a big pot, and his now the chip leader, DO NOT play a pot with them.. It always seems they are just on a hot streak and will just have you dominated... Call it superstitition, but that always seems to happen to me..

FYP

A9 four handed and one player already folded is huge.

If the big stack has you beat oh well, it happens.

Hah, great stuff, cheers guys. I suppose it all comes down to whether you want to contest for first or are happy with the third or second place payout. For me, having to pay off the overdraft etc etc.. either way, standard raise wasn't correct lol

i can see this, but a lot of times if a player picks up a lot of chips, he feels like he can dominate the table so he will be raising with rags

Or it could just be that two hands are independant events, and therefore, the events of one hand have no bearing on the next, or any other.

(aside from obv psychological, metagame implications, etc, I'm talking about the cards.)

But, but...but he just won last pot!!!! And the one before that!!! OMGZ he's on FIRE. Good and bad things come in 3 surprised you didn't know that, strat moderataments lolzer.

Good point. Drawing really thin or a coin flip at best is all we can hope for here.

And, I agree as well about the push or fold in this spot. A standard raise has little to no fold equity against a big chip leader.

Our M is about 4.7, we are definitely in push/fold mode. I just hate A9. However, if I remember HoH, he advocates pushing any A in this M zone.

/debate.

I don't think our opponent is going to push over top of a standard raise with a random hand here. He has a big chip lead, but not enough to warrant putting about 20% of his stack at risk with junk, imo.

If we tighten his range to 22+, ATs+, ATos+, our equity drops to about 33%.

I think this even more clearly illustrates why we shouldn't try this move with such a low M.

No, we push in first time around. Our M is like 4-5 if I recall correctly.

QFT - As someone said earlier you shouldn't have to make this decision. In poker we shoud try and make our opponents make tough decisions, it's easier hear to make him face a decision than you in this situation. Shovel when you get the chance, or don't play the hand. I've been on FT's where the CL has come over the top of my raises with hands like KQ,KJ,88,77 before. I presume you called and he had you crushed though....

Yes, that's what I meant. The "move" I was referring to was the standard raise, not a good play.

As played, once the chip leader pushes we are usually way behind. Even though I'm left short with a fold I'll have at least one more chance at survival. If we think our opponent would re-raise with a random hand than yes, call. But I lean towards a fold and push our next hand.