Hey Guys,
Last night I played in a $4.40 bounty on UB and here is the situation...
Blinds 750-1500 12 players left. I am UTG and get JJ (I am 6th with ~32k chips and 4th in chips at my table)

The large stacks are UTG+1(89k), +2(55k), and cutoff (102k) and BB is 27k. I raise 4200 and UTG+2 reraises to 20k. All others fold. My image is tight and I have not had to show down much and when I have it has been with the best.

Result, I tank and show fold JJ and he shows AKs. Is this fold too passive and is the pf raise wrong and I should shove or fold pf? That late I don't think a fold is right because of my stack size and the blinds. I was not running very hot either. So do I shove to try and build for top three? Thoughts? FYI, I finished 9th losing a flip.

Thanks

In thinking back to some of the videos, with hind site of the hands at the end, I guess I probably should decide on what I wanted to accomplish. If I wanted to win the blinds and antes (750+1500+150x6)2150 then I should probably shove and not 2.5 raise since I am not competetive vs the 2 big stacks and have no fold equity without max pressure. Any calls here would be with stronger hands or flips with AK. (only one weaker player at table) Also 12th to 8th is not much different so that may have been my shot to get competetive with the 3-5th largest stacks. The other option would be to do the raise and the commitment to shove vs a 3 bet. The fold was vs a guy that picked his spots and didn't splash and I really thought AA-QQ was highly likely however at that point I think either play would have been better then a fold if I wanted to reach 5th or above. I would like to hear some opinions. Agree? Disagree?

Thanks,
Kelley

Hey Rev,

I read your first post in this thread a couple days ago and intended to reply then, but for one reason and another didn't get around to it.

In my opinion, you played the hand fine. It's a super super super tough spot, but at this point in the tournament you have 21BB's so it isn't incredibly spewy to raise fold in this spot. Usually, it would be, however you have to take certain things into account here.

Number 1 is your position. You are UTG, and whilst shoving JJ from middle or late position with you stack would be the right play, UTG it differs slightly because you have the extra players to act behind you, thus increasing the likelihood that someone has a big hand they are going to call you with.

Number 2 is your opponents position. He is UTG+2, and whilst (i assume) the table will be shorthanded at this point, he will be wary that you are raising UTG. Obviously the earlier position the raise, the stronger the hand (if this guy is a thinking player at least). You also mention that your image was tight, so this may tighten the 3 bettors range even more.
AK and maybe AQ are the very minimum of his range here and I think he may only flat with AQ, JJ, TT and 99.

Whilst I make a point of not playing for the final table etc, and playing for the win, there are certain times when you know for sure that you are flipping at best. These are the spots where you can kind of deviate from that plan, sigh loudly and hit the fold button.

Just one more thing though, and that's that it takes a lot of discipline to be able to fold these big pairs in this kind of situation, so I salute you for that. Overall I think you did a good job on the hand and congratulations on the final table.

Thanks Matt,
Sorry for my delay in responding as well. I work for Symantec and have been busy. I really appreciate the advise and I agree that I should of thought a bit more about folding as an option. I also picked up a 17th just after that (wasn't able to get away from QQ with a stop and go vs AA) poor discipline on my part with a rag flop. Anyway, I have really enjoyed your 2 heads up primas and have been 60-75% win rate on PS. Your videos have shown me that I need to be more disciplined and heads-up play has really helped reduce my MTT spewwing.... Most of my HU matchs hardly ever get to 25/50 and it seems my opponents lose patience...LOL I look forward to more of your videos and enjoy your style of mentoring. Much thanks.

PS. My step mom lives in your home town (lichfield) so when I make it over there, I would love to buy you a pint!

Cheers
Rev

Awesome stuff Rev! Glad the vid's are helping.

And don't kick yourself about the QQ hand. Obviously I dont know exactly how it played out but I'm pretty sure on a ragged flop I'm going broke with QQ a lot too.

You'll be interested to know that I'm gonna do another MTT series as soon as I've released part 3 of the heads up prima!

And I'm gonna hold you to that pint... not that the pubs in lichfield are worth going to lol.

Very kewl,
Played a 3.30 +R on PS today and had a heartbreaker. Stack is at 338k with 225 left (paid out to 1080). Image is TAG and I get 44 in seat 5. Fold to me and I 2.5x raise (BB=10k). Seat 6 and 7 flat (stacks are 190k, 315k.) 3 to flop.....A4T rainbow, I check (image = if I bet oop then I got it). 6 bets half pot and 7 shoves. I hit the timer. 7 does not have AA or TT because of the flat behind both of us, so I put him on AT or AK. Seat 6 probably has A paint or PP and I will pay off TT if I am really unlucky so I feel good and shove. 6 folds and 7 did have AT. River comes a T and I go out 222 with a little profit. So here is my 2 questions...

I am like 30th position with 225 left. Leader is like 1.4m. the real money is in the top 12 spots and 6 of 9 player at table have 190k or more (I think I was 3rd in stack at table). So you where I am heading with this... Philosophically speaking is this situation to be avoided or is this how you get the stack to FT and not be short? I am not sure if it was a bit early but I told myself before I raised, that I would be check folding if I don't see some paint with a 4 on the flop. My gutt feels good about above but my head is not sure and I don't have alot of late game experience in MMT's. Thoughts?

You guys have had a very positive impact on my comfort level and reading. Much thanks! HU I have been kinda flat losing flips so I go MTT when that happens. Look foward to more.

Cheers
Rev

You played the hand absolutely flawlessly dude, just got very unlucky with the river! Just keep putting in the volume and eventually hands like this will hold when it matters.