JJ on BB (final table)

[AceQueen]

$3NL MTT, 10-seat final table, first round, full table, 8th in chips.
Dealt JJ in the big blind.
UTG+1 (9th in chips) goes all in, everyone folds to me.
Calling will leave me less than a bet.
I'm pretty sure he's got a least a good hand.
Probably gonna be close to a coin flip, but I call anyway.
Just felt like I couldn't pass on the chance double up and knock him out
He turns over AK and hits the king.
Game over, man.

How was this call, considering I figured he might have two overcards? There were lots of medium sized stacks, the other short stacks were close to mine, and the play was pretty slow considering the high blinds. Also, I did still had a couple rounds worth of chips. I think my decision was based more on my read of the whole situation I was in, more than that particular hand. Was that good thing or not?

I'm always torn in this type of situation. So any advice would be appreciated.

[PokerPatNEU]

You're 8th in chips at the final table, are the chip stacks kinda evenly distributed or are you way understacked? What i'm really asking is, how big is your stack exactly and how big are the blinds? If you are short stacked compared to the blind size, this is probably a good call because villain's push range is about the same as yours and includes a lot of worse hands than JJ. If the stack distribution isn't extremely skewed and 8th place doesnt necessarily mean you have a crippled short stack, than you can lay down JJ here.

Most times i imagine you are at less than 10x BB if you are the 8th biggest stack at the final table, so this call is good imo.

[STIdrivr]

You got your money in with the best hand which means you played it right. Bad luck is going to happen and it sucks but u did the right thing

[AceQueen]

You're 8th in chips at the final table, are the chip stacks kinda evenly distributed or are you way understacked? What i'm really asking is, how big is your stack exactly and how big are the blinds?

Blinds are 2K/4K (to be raised next hand), I've got 30K before posting the BB, stacks pretty evenly distributed, with 3-4 not more than 2BB above/below me, a couple stacks about double mine, big stack was only 120K. I thought doubling up here was my best shot at top 5, and waiting for a better situation than JJ 1-on-1 would be just wishful thinking.

Thanks for the comments. There are worse ways to go off a final table. I can't complain too much.

[lovemachine]

with those blinds i think you have to take JJ here, at worst you'll be a tossup, a bigger overpair would probably make a 2.5x-3x raise to try and extract more value. sometimes you'll probably be up against a smaller pair. this in my opinion is an easy call if you want to be in contention to win the mtt. unlucky that you were only in a race situation and lost to the AK. but if you fold then you are still one of the short stacks so you'll need to make something happen soon anyways

[PokerPatNEU]

Yep i agree with lovemachine. You are at 7.5 BB as it is, and with them about to increase you are going to be stuck pushing a worse hand than JJ soon. Push and pray

[zenbitz]

I guess you call, but I think it's close. A coin flip is worth $15K chips (1/2 his stack, cause you win 1/2 the time).

If it goes up to 4/8K that's ONE all-in blind steal. If the table is tight, and you can push and steal the blinds twice, you are ahead.

Your read on opponent here matters... if he's tight - the odds are against you dominating him. I think his position is important here, too. If he was on the button, easy call. UTG+1 ...

Well, anyway, it's close.

[drmcboy]

easy call. With those stacks when it goes to 4/8 you're going to end up gambooling anyway.

his position to me is a factor the other way, trying to make a move before his stack gets snapped in half by the blinds (remember, they are going up next hand). I'd gamble here with many worse hands than JJ. Much better chance you're dominating than dominated.

You think it's easier to blind steal twice in one orbit than win a flip? meh

[Staple Gun]

Good call, usually its a flip, sometimes yo are dominatiing RARELY are you dominated.

[AceQueen]

Many thanks for all the comments all!

I understand the whole thing much better now, and learned more than if I'd won the hand or folded... seems unlikely I'd have posted about it then.