[Eldog]

This past weekend i was down in AC in a shootout style tourney. there were 90 people at 9 tables so the final table consisted of the 9 table winners all starting with 50k in chips. I was fortunate enough to make the final table and on the very first hand things got interesting in a hurry.
Im in middle position and the first guy to act raises to 10k, the next guy makes it 20k, the 3rd guy goes all in......4th guy calls and then its me. Im thinking wow big action hand look down at my cards and see AA. Just as a quick background note ive been running bad the last couple weeks and have had Aces cracked afew times on me as well as earlier during this tourney so seeing the AA doesnt automatically give me the super warm and fuzzy. As im looking at my cards thinking to myself with various crazy things running through my brain i hear the dealer say its not your turn to act sir. i look up and see the guy who made it 20k had put his hands behind his stack and moved it forward alittle bit like he was giong to push in. when i make eye contact with the guy he says to me if it helps you make your decsion at all this IS what it looks like.
So now its looking like i'll be taking AA into a 4 way all in pot if i call.

Is this a no brainer push right in? i know i have the best starting hand but im thinking atleast one of these guys is holding AK if somone else has a A then my hand cant improve and will AA hold up in a 4 way pot. Of course if i call and win i have a monster chip lead at the final table but if i lose i hate the thought of being out first hand.

-Eldog

[KYBill]

IM ALL IN

[jojobinks]

depends on the payouts.

if moving up a few places means real money to you, then fold. it'll be a good story to tell the grandkids.

if you're playing for first, it's a push.

[jojobinks]

you really are a pretty big favorite though...i think i take back my fold if you wanna move up advice.

equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 05.4255 % 04.88% 00.54% { AKs, AKo }
Hand 2: 16.8100 % 16.69% 00.12% { TT+ }
Hand 3: 14.3359 % 14.10% 00.24% { 88+, 22, AJs+, KQs, AQo+ }
Hand 4: 63.4286 % 62.97% 00.46% { AA }

assuming some reasonable ranges...

[Johnny5]

Is this some sort of dream??

Is this a no brainer push right in?

YEP!

[hachkc]

Statistically speaking, there is no reason to ever muck AA preflop; its the best starting hand. In a cash game never, in a tourney only in a on-the-bubble position.

If only 6 spots out of 9 are paid and you're looking at a 4 way all-in fest; its probably reasonable to fold for a near guaranteed payout. More than likely, at least 1 if not 2 of your A's are gone. It all depends on how risk adverse you are. Then again there's no shame in going in with the best hand win or lose.

[ilyu2]

Wow HMMM Well your right All of us have gone thru a period that we were card dead or BHB [best hand beat] every time we played. Yes I have laid down AA pre flop. Twice as a matter of fact. Once I was dead on with the call of laying it down and the other time I was kicking my self sooo hard I still have the bruises. But in your case even with the dreaded thought of being first out I would call and hope that the one out of three times AA holds up was this time. SSOOOOO What did you do?

[insane_irish]

First I would assume that these guys are decent players by virtue of making it to the final table, and my guess would be the only way there are four people at a final table all willing to go all in on the first hand is if they are holding AA, AK, or KK. That would mean that all of the A's and K's are used up. Therefore not only can your hand not improve, there is very little chance of anybody else's hand improving. The only thing you have to worry about is the guys holding AK making a stright or possibly flush. Probably worth the gamble. All in.

[jojobinks]

what if...

final table pays out 1st: 70% and 2nd: 30%.

signifigant money at risk...

you're in the big blind. EVERYONE goes all in ahead of you. if you fold, you're likely to make 2nd place money...if you call you're:
equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 07.5335 % 07.55% 00.81% { random }
Hand 2: 07.7455 % 07.70% 00.89% { random }
Hand 3: 07.5961 % 07.58% 00.84% { random }
Hand 4: 07.5330 % 07.48% 00.87% { random }
Hand 5: 07.6360 % 07.64% 00.83% { random }
Hand 6: 07.7082 % 07.72% 00.83% { random }
Hand 7: 07.8634 % 07.84% 00.88% { random }
Hand 8: 07.8524 % 07.82% 00.88% { random }
Hand 9: 07.4772 % 07.41% 00.88% { random }
Hand 10: 31.0547 % 34.18% 00.25% { AA }

65% to finish out of the money...then you fold, right?

[JM]

Yeah, I think we have to know the payout structure first to make a decision on this hand.