45-man SNG, top 6 paid, 7 people remaining. I guess some conservative players would just dump the AK here and hope to make the money, but the actual results aside, I don't think that's generally correct. Clearly I'm not flatting... so, who's shoving and who's folding?

The guy seemed like a moderately tight player, so his UTG opening range might be like AJs+ AQo+ 99+... it sounds silly that I'm even considering folding AK when my M is 5, but with two people even shorter than me, am I better off gambling against that range for a double-up, or letting it to go and looking for spots to steal?

A lot of people at the table had been min-raising once the blinds got big, so I didn't think it was likely to mean anything specific, but looking back over the hand history, this guy had only done it once before and usually raised to 3xBB... so maybe if I'd been paying more attention I could have gotten away from it.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, 5+0.50 Tournament, 400/800 Blinds (7 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB (t3975)
BB (t16655)
UTG (t19460)
MP1 (t2820)
MP2 (t8665)
Xopods (CO) (t6100)
Button (t9825)

Xopods's M: 5.08

Preflop: Xopods is CO with A, K
UTG bets t1600, 2 folds, Xopods raises to t6100 (All-In), Button raises to t9825 (All-In), 2 folds, UTG calls t8225

Flop: (t26950) 7, J, 5 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (t26950) 5 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: (t26950) 10 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: t26950

Results:
Button had K, K (two pair, Kings and fives).
UTG had A, A (two pair, Aces and fives).
Xopods had A, K (one pair, fives).
Outcome: UTG won t26950

Damnit!
I'm not sure I would've shoved, on the bubble, but that's just because I'm a pussy. I think you probably made the right call, and it was just unlucky that you were up against AA and KK. There are a lot of threads with people who have been screwed with AK at the moment, so I think I'm getting a bit confused as to what the best play with them is.

Go to the online poker discussion forum and whine about how online poker is a big fix

Just busted out in 11th of another of these things shoving AK in a similar situation. This time I was just up against A9 but he got there. Played three today, more or less bubbled all three: 15th, 11th and 7th. I guess 15th isn't really the bubble, but close.

Originally Posted by 4tun8

You sound like me........I can get myself 90% to the money.........just can't finish. I don't know what changes in my game but if I consistantly get myself close to the money you'd think I could change my game to consistantly get myself to the money itself. As soon as I figure out what I'm doing wrong later in the game then I'll be able to make decent money playing poker. I play 45-180 man SnG's and do very well until the end.

Well, my friend Tim plays a lot of poker and told me, "You're doing everything right... now you just have to learn how to make your winning hands win." I can't remember the last time I actually won a showdown with AK.

You played it right. How often can you put UTG on a range of QQ+, AK? That's about he only I fold AK in that situation. Plus consider that with only 5 rounds worth of blinds/antes (less because blinds will increase before then), what are the odds you'll get a better hand? And if you do, still have enough chips to make doubling up meaningful?

ALLLLLLLINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!