Final table of a €6 (approx $10) MTT - last 6 players.

The previous 3 times I was in the BB it was folded around to the SB and the SB play was call, check-fold flop, raise (I folded), call, check-fold flop and generally the SB has been tight.

(I can't post the actual hand history as it didn't save on my machine for some reason)


Blinds are 2000/4000

UTG (99430t)
UTG+1 (26118t)
MP1 (20568t)
Button (50318t)
Hero (25420t) is BB
Villain (25395t) is SB

Hero K 9

Pre-flop: 4 folds, Villain raises to 8000, Hero calls

Flop: K, 10, 3

Villain is all in (17395)
Hero?

Questions:
1) Should I have folded pre-flop?
2) Should I have pushed pre-flop?

given that I called:
3) What should my thought process be when facing this bet?

First, is that the only info you have on the SB?

Second, you each have roughly 6.4 BBs left, so you choose what you do wisely. I personally am never calling here because if you call and plan on folding if you don’t hit the flop hard you will be sitting with 4.3 BBs left. Then you’re in the small blind next hand. So I think you only have two options: shove or fold. Personally I think at this stage of tournament if the SB is only going to min raise that means he doesn’t want to risk you calling his shove. So I feel that is a weak sign and I’m coming over the top with a hand like K9 the blinds are too high and orbits too short with your stack size. I guess you could fold if you’re super tight and just trying to go deeper in the money (which could be a great a option) but with no real reads on the SB (all you mentioned was the 3 you noticed) I’m going to shove.

Lastly, LOL at folding this flop. You hit top pair BvB, I’m guessing you’re good here if he flopped a flush, two pair or just out kicks you then so be it. But I would assume the SB is pushing here with any two cards because you didn’t show any strength preflop and that can be a scary board if you didn’t have a king or a heart.

A big factor in your play of this hand really depends on the payout structure of the tournament. If climbing up another spot or two makes a big difference in the payout, than you have to fold pre-flop. If there isn't that much difference in the next couple of spots, than you have to either have to ship or get off the pot.

In thinking about what type of hand teh SB might of had, there are two routes. He either had a marginal hand and thought by min raising he could A) see an affordable flop (you not shoving behind his limp) or B) He had a big pair and he was trying to draw you in. Option A seems the most likely. With a flop like that, if he hit a pair or had a big draw he is going to shove and hope you don't call, which is what I assume he had. At this point, calling pre-flop, I think you are probably committed to make the call and just hope he is on a draw or just hit the 10. Think about it, if you fold in this position you are now leaving a pot out there that's worth at least 16k and you will only have about 4BB left...AND you have to walk into the SB the next hand.

Thanks for the replies. I felt that calling pre flop was good because of my pot odds but I can see now that my M is too low for that.

As for my thinking when SB pushed here - I put him on AA, A + anything, QQ-88 (not sure why I thought this at the time - looking at it now most of those hands are all in pre-flop aren't they?) and bluff.

So I thought I'm behind to AA, AK and trips. 2 hearts is checking that flop surely?

And here's the outcome

Hero K, 9

Pre-flop: 4 folds, Villain raises to 8000, Hero calls (4000)

Flop: K, 10, 3

Villain is all in (17395)
Hero calls (17935) - Couldn't let top pair go here

Villain shows 6, 5

Hero prays for Ks and 9s but doesn't get them.