[Big Mike]

Just a question about a tourney hand I just played:

PokerStars Game #11003328659: Tournament #55781485, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIV (1000/2000) - 2007/07/18 - 13:27:15 (ET)
Table '55781485 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 3: babb29475 (52718 in chips)
Seat 4: Geronimomo (111514 in chips)
Seat 5: robo51 (46119 in chips)
Seat 6: bigmike78 (23188 in chips)
Seat 7: D_RON77 (36461 in chips)
babb29475: posts the ante 200
Geronimomo: posts the ante 200
robo51: posts the ante 200
bigmike78: posts the ante 200
D_RON77: posts the ante 200
bigmike78: posts small blind 1000
D_RON77: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bigmike78 [Ah Kc]
babb29475: raises 12000 to 14000
Geronimomo: raises 97314 to 111314 and is all-in
robo51: folds
bigmike78:

CO had been raising any two cards, Button had been playing fairly tight.
I was quite sure the initial raiser was going to call, should I have folded here and moved up a spot in the money if he busted?? Or is it one of those, "but if you want to WIN, call" scenarios?

[99%evil]

If it's a bubble hand. I fold, if you're two or three from the money...I may call, thinking bab was making a play and geronimo was putting pressure on bab with a decent hand...at worst pocket pair (hopefully not aces or kings...I would think a call then give the other guy a chance to play at it on the flop, or a small raise to get bab to commit more chips...) you could be a coin flip or better...but not a great hand against 2 folks, especially if you're sharing cards with one of them.

[whataboutj]

I probably would have folded and let them fight it out. But I dont always make the right plays

[links_slayer]

Call. You're probably behind but will flop an Ace per P* protocol.

Wait...that only happens when I'm on the other end.

[TheMightyJim2k]

fold. There is a big difference between moving all-in with AK pf, and calling all-in with AK pf. You have no fold equity when you call, which is one of the most important ways to make AK a profitable hand.

Plus you have two big stacks battling here so you are almost definitely playing for your tourney life. You still have enough chips to make some moves, so fold and pick a better spot.

[tikipirate]

I think it comes down to how much you want to gamble...if you want to make a run at a win, and are at the back of the pack, maybe make a go, but know you may be going home. FWIW I fold here an pick a better spot.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by 99%evil

If it's a bubble hand. I fold, if you're two or three from the money...I

This was a 180 man sng, so I was already well in the money. 5th spot pays $117, 4th pays $144. If I fold and the shorter stack loses, I get $30 more.
What I don't want to see is me fold and have the shorter stack win, leaving me still very short given the blinds and just folded the best hand I'll likely see for the rest of the tourney.

[jojobinks]

Originally Posted by TheMightyJim2k

fold. There is a big difference between moving all-in with AK pf, and calling all-in with AK pf. You have no fold equity when you call, which is one of the most important ways to make AK a profitable hand.

Plus you have two big stacks battling here so you are almost definitely playing for your tourney life. You still have enough chips to make some moves, so fold and pick a better spot.

si. this is tourny poker 101, imo. the greatest value of AK preflop is your fold equity. and the way to get chips in tournaments is to chop away with as little risk as possible. that means no 3 way allins with only moderately strong hands.

[Big Mike]

What if the Button had just open pushed (all folded to him)? Surely I'd be calling then w my AK? My M is only 5.8, so I really don't have a long time to be making moves. I felt AK matched up pretty favorably to the hands I'd be likely to be facing. (Yes, I called.)

[Poboy]

5 handed, and if I wanted to win the tourney, I'd call. Big stack's iso range and initial raiser's range are decently wide. I don't know if you'll get a better chance than this to pick up 2 2/3rds x your stack.