How could I have played this better?

[Running Gag]

I'm in the SB with pocket Kings tonight in a 40 man 20 dollar tourney, where we all start off with 1000 chips each, and while I did win this hand, I'm inwardly kicking myself for not maximizing when I had the chance.

Here's how the hand went down. Blinds were 5/10, and it was folded around to a player in MP, who bet 75. The CO called, and the button folded. I thought about it for a minute, and then reraised 150 on top. Both the middle position and CO folded.

Turns out MP had AQo, and CO had AKs. CO said he folded because my "huge" reraise just smelled way too much like high pockets. In actuality, I was trying to isolate the MP, who I was sure was going to call, but apparently, I had a tight image at this table (which was strange, because I was raising and reraising like crazy almost every other hand). Personally, I think I should've put the CO and MP on high overlapping overs, and just smooth called with my Kings, trying to extract more value. What do you think?

[johnnyawe]

Good play. Say you just call and no Ace falls on the flop, they are both probably going to fold the flop anyways.. so you would have the same result. And if an Ace happens to fall, well let's not even think about that.

A hank like KK is strongest before the flop and gets weaker each time another card is turned over. You got your chips in the middle when your hand was strongest, which I think is good play.

[Running Gag]

Also, just for kicks, the hand I went out on this tourney:

With blinds at 15/30, I was dealt As 6s two seats from the button, and a guy UTG raised to 100, a lil' over 3xBB. I instantly put him on high overs, but called, mainly because the hand before, I had taken a 400 sized pot from the guy on my left holding pocket 7s, with a 10 high bluff. I'd showed the table, and I knew that he had taken notice of it, so I felt if I flopped a hand, I'd be able to take him for a decent amount of money (there were lots of people that were calling down with A high to keep people "honest" at this table).

Well, I hit a dream flop. Ac 6d 2h. No flush draw, no visible straight, and me holding top two pair. I checked, hoping to trap him, and he didn't disappoint. He raised 150, and I reraised him 150. He then reraised me again, and I moved all-in for about 500 more. After thinking for forever, the guy said "I think you're bluffing", and called with Ad Kc.

Now, I know that "technically" I made the right decision, as I was an 84 percent favorite to win on the flop. (Running queens counterfeited my two pair, and sent me to the rail, though). However, after reading Sklansky's book on advanced tournament strategy, I feel that I shouldn't have been so quick to lay my tournament life on the line with blinds so minimal. Would any of you have played this differently, valuing survival over doubling up when blinds are so low?

[AidanN20]

what does CO mean? mp = middle position?

[lolzzz_321]

what does CO mean? mp = middle position?

CO=Cut Off: Position preceding the button (player to the right of the button)

MP=Middle Position