Was playing in a large online tourney of 5000 players. Small buy in of $2. It was down to 350 players. Blinds at 300/600. Ante 75. Only paid 18 players. Just switched tables so i had no read on the other players.


my hand: 8h8d

I have 14,177 in chips after posting the ante. I was in 2nd position at a table of 9 players.

player 1 folds, I raise 5x the BB to 3,000. Player in 4th position goes all in for his last 44,126. All other players fold.

Because my M was 9 after my 3000 raise if I were to fold, and because the tourney only paid 18 places. I called. Player in 4th ended up having kings and I lost the hand.

It didn't seem to make any sense for him to go all in with so many chips (his M was 27), so i was suspecting a bluff to steal the pot. And the tourney only paying 18 meant I really needed to get back up with the chip leaders.

But after looking back, I think pocket 8's were just a little bit too weak to make the call.

Also I think I probably should have just called before the flop.

Thoughts? I'm a beginner, I've only been playing hold em for 4 months. Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I agree with triple about the raise size. I think that there is really no reason to raise that much because when you raise that much in early position and get shoved on, your are racing against AK or a huge dog to a bigger pair. I think you should have raised to 3x the BB, and folded to the 4th position shove. If someone with a small M shoves, then you have to call but otherwise fold. If you did this in late position however, its a snap call.

5000 players and only 18 get paid? Sounds like the best advice is to not play that tournament...

You have like 22 blinds, with your position and hand I make it 2.5x the BB or maybe 3. The 5x BB raise screams small pair to me, and shoving the kings is an OUTSTANDING move because you're thinking steal. Metagame FTW. When he does shove you're looking at a race at best, with 22 blinds I look for a better spot.

Just raise to 1800 and fold to his shove. Also, WTF, this tournament is retarded. I'm not sure I believe that this wasn't actually a freeroll.

Shoving is horrible. You have too many chips to shove. Raise to 2.5-3bb and still leave room to fold a re-raise

I don't agree with your play, 88 isn't a bad hand if the other guy had less chips and was making a move in desperation. I think you could have waiting for a better spot. His overbet was actually a very good move, he represented a small pair or maybe a suited connector and got someone to bite,unfortunatly it was you . Live and learn. Sounds like a pretty crappy tourney though.

you should post a Hand history so it would make it easier to see how play unfolded. just some advice

I know it sounds crazy, but I would probably fold that hand pre-flop. You have so many to act after you that even raising 3 BB is crying out for someone to shove on you, and you have to fold. Limping and set mining isn't really an option because of the blind sizes. All-in is a horrible play as well...at best your likely to be 50-50.
I find it most difficult to play a medium chip stack...M of between 10 and 20, and I usually shut down through that period unless I pick up AK-Q, or 10's or above.