Early stages of the $3 MTT, no real reads on this guy. I'm a little shortstacked, had to make a tough laydown on the river earlier. What do you guys do in this situation?


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) converter

UTG+1 (t1670)
AT (t1140)
MP2 (t640)
MP3 (t1870)
CO (t1480)
Button (t2190)
SB (t2120)
BB (t2490)
UTG (t1570)

Preflop: AT is MP1 with Tc, Ts.
2 folds, AT raises to t120, 3 folds, Button calls t120, SB calls t105, 1 fold.

Flop: (t390) 8s, 5d, 7h (3 players)
SB checks, AT bets t180, Button raises to t2070, SB folds, AT...

Probably lay it down as I'm only beating 99.

But to fair I'd also call it if I had the slightest hint he was a maniac.

you had 1140, and you put 300 in the pot?

390 in the pot on the flop, you bet 180 so 570 total then his all in 1410 total, , is is 840 more to call. 1.7dds.

You fold and you need to double up just to get to par.

I would call. Your bet is so small, it looks like a standard probe/continuation bet. Small bets at big pots can inspire bluffs.

The guy just called PF so you have to discount high pairs, possible but not very likely.

He may have a set but why raise your weak bet all-in then? I think he has AK, AQ, KQ or 66,77. Maybe even A8s, A6, 76 or 87.

I think there is enough chance you have him on a drawing hand to call.

That was my thinking as well. However, it was still so early I wasn't sure if that was the best move. I'll wait for others to reply before I tell you guys what I did.

This is why I don't like to put too much into a pot preflop with JJ, TT or 99 as it can make for hard decisions post-flop.

A "good" flop of rags needs to be bet to avoid giving the turn for cheap and having A,K or Q hit. But at the same time as Beav said anything perceived as a weakness can lead to a reraise and put you to the test. Different situation if you are second to act.

I agree you are probably ahead here and it's a call and hope you aren't facing JJ that has decided to take it down now rather than risk you hitting overcads, but I think it's the kind of situation it pays to avoid in MTTs in order to survive in the long run.

the button has lots of chip and is in late position.. A-8 suited, 98 suited 66 and any other pair that would make a set are all possiblities. Most likely he reraised you with top pair and a good drawing hand or 66 or a set. With 66 hes drawing enough outs to get ABOUT two to one odds and obviously he feels that even if he was behind he'd still be getting correct odds if you called. I'd call.. big risk = big reward
over pairs don't seem to be a problem at this point.

I probably would have bet about 300. I like 3/4 pot bets. Half pot bets don't get much respect and offer good odds.

Your really don't want to see any overcards, so I may have even potted it here.

I like to consitantly bet 3/4 -1 half the pot so people can't tell my continuation bets from my made hand bets. I pick my bluff spots pretty well, so if I bet 3/4 and I win half the time I am money ahead.

Dan Harrington recommends 1/2, but people will call with just overcards in my opinion, especially early. That makes turn play very tricky.

Tough situation,but i agree with beavis the bet of $180 in this spot with this flop is inviting a bluff.Having no read on this guy and him flat calling your raise preflop on the button he could have anything.But very unlikely to have AA KK QQ or JJ.I would be more inclined to put him on something like 66 or like beavis said AK AQ AJ A10,or even more likely the way some of these people play he could very well have called your preflop raise with A-8 A-7 OR A-6 .I might be way off base here but with that flop if i am going to continue with the hand i am checking to get info or moving all in right here to shut out the draw if he is on A-6 or 66.Of course he might have no conception of draw odds and call anyway but so be it.Also if you move in here and he is on top pair your probally getting a call depending on how clueless he is.On the other hand if he is a good player your bet of $180 is even worse as he has no information on you,your bet of $180 just reeks of a-k a-q a-j in this spot or slowplaying a big pocket.Doubtful he would put you on the big pocket with this flop and that sized bet so he is willing to gamble with his sized stack in relation to yours.Given all this i think i would fold the way the hand played out and it is still early enough for you to come back in the tourney,but i play to tight anyway lol.Also many different players have different standards for the size of their preflop raises.Some swear by the 3 or 4 times big rule to keep people guessing but i myself hate this strategy i like to mix up the size of my prelop raises with quality starters.I feel this gives you a more unpredictable look thus avoiding some situations like this.In that spot with tens i am raising 6 or 7 times the big blind to represent exactly what you have 1010 JJ OR QQ.That way if you get the caller the same way this hand went down with the same flop and bet out a pot sized bet he has to give you credit for an overpocket if he has any skill and be less inclined to come over you with a bluff.Anyway i rambled enough lol.I still think the way the hand played out you have to check or move in after the flop.Very curious to see if you called or folded and what he actually held in the hand.GL AT THE TABLES.

i would call. seems as though he's trying to push you around with a draw. probably putting you on over cards.

I would have bet T300 on the flop. I guess in this spot I grumpily lay it down.

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