Originally Posted by Jason75

This is a tough one. People often get pissed off when you don't cooperate with them at a final table to eliminate another player, and will often then try and take the pot away from you (even if they lose to the SS, they'll still pick up your bets and make a profit).

Here's your dilemma when betting this pot: If he's got a set, you're dead meat and pretty much out of the tourney. Why take the risk when you're doing well and have a chance to move up into the serious money (typically, the serious money starts between 5th - 3rd place). I know this seems ludicrous, but I think you need to be happy just to take the pot down by checking it down.

It hurts to watch a top two pair get checked all the way down, but I think you're most of the time you're getting called by a better hand (unless he has AK). I know this seems exceptionally conservative, but you've worked so hard to get here, don't piss it away on one hand like this.

I think in retrospect, I reraise the button PF and either end up heads up with a lot of dead money (likely against a smaller ace) against the SS, or then we play this one for real.