Early in a tournament generally I'm probably just checking PF for the "free" look, however this is a great way to get HU against someone if you want to play it like that. This was a horrible flop for TT though 2 overs plus a FD isn't great for us, but given the PF raise I'd play it the same.

Small to mid PP in the blinds generally I like to see cheap, because at this stage a lot of people are playing any A, 2 suited, etc. and some like to push when one hits. So when you hit your set it's usually disguised very well.

Originally Posted by Beavis68

That flop is so ugly and betting is so expensive I am probably checking it.

Gotta agree with Beavis...I really don't like this flop and would probably check. If opponent missed, he may worry about me slowplaying and check also...then I can reevaluate things on the turn.

I like limping in this situation since I am way OOP and it is early in the tournament. I can then play the TT for set and overpair value really cheap. If the flop is rags, I'm not worried about a bigger pair with all these limpers.

BTW, I had read somewhere that when there are several limpers ahead and you want to narrow down the field or possibly just take the pot...make a normal 4XBB raise PLUS one BB for each limper. In this case, you would have made a 180 raise and possibly only had a caller or two. Anyway, this rule of thumb has worked for me.

Here's some very simple rules of thumb in any tournament:

1. When the blinds and antes are low compared to average stack size, the relative value of pairs is extremely low (if not non-existant).

2. The majority of players who are still around at these levels (mostly everyone who bought in), are "dead money", mostly because they overvalue hands like TP, PP's, and A-big kicker hands.

Thus, when the blinds are low, you have huge implied odds to hit a set. Go with the implied odds, check the pairs QQ and below (yes, even QQ PF) and try and hit your set. When you do, just jump all in and count the callers.

With hands like QQ and JJ, I will push all in on undercard flops.

Anything else . . . . no set no bet.

I regard this play as a steal from the blinds and while I like it in general, I think you tried it a way too low a level. Like Jason pointed out the tourey still has most of its calling stations, fish and maniacs lurking around so a steal like this is much more difficult to pull off. At this level I'd be more inclined to limp in from the blinds and hope to hit the set or a ragged underboard.

Your action did manage to get you heads up and that increases your win% - too bad the flop ruined your plans! Since you're OOP you have a difficult situation on your hands with that Ace staring back at ya. Any bet less than your pf raise just screams weak/missed the flop as does checking so I'm inclined to make a continuation bet of 300 also. UTG comes back with 1000 which according to his stack numbers is all-in. The pot was offering almost 2:1 to call but so early into the tourney and over a 1/3 my stack to go I'm folding too.

Ok, I used to clean up at these things, the $5 27 man SNG's on stars, almost 50% ITM almost 100% ROI over 50+ events. If you do a search, I posted some guidelines for these things.

I like the Bet Preflop. 5-7 handed is where you build your dominating chip stack in these things. You are the table CL. Bully the hell out of the table. You need to build a huge stack for the run during the Fullhanded play. To be honest though, I think you could have saved yourself a few chips by only raising it to 200ish, with the same effect.

But, as has been said, Anything that calls this (IMO) overbet PF has to like this flop. This is an easy check fold here... save your self a few chips.