Bad push on 3d-flop?

[Borax]

Should I have bet less or checked this flop, given my A?

NL $20+$2 SnG

Seat 1: Hero ($1,275 in chips)
Seat 2 ($415 in chips)
Seat 3 ($1,300 in chips)
Seat 5 ($5,180 in chips)
Seat 6 ($1,270 in chips)
Seat 7 ($1,375 in chips)
Seat 8 ($1,135 in chips)
Seat 9 ($3,050 in chips)

BLINDS
Seat 9 post SB ($25)
Hero posts BB ($50)

PRE-FLOP
Seat 2 calls $50
4 folds
Seat 7 calls $50
Seat 8 folds
Seat 9 calls $25
Hero bets $365
Seat 2 calls $365 and is all-in
Seat 7 folds
Seat 9 calls $365

FLOP


Seat 9 checks
Hero bets $860 and is all-in
Seat 9 folds

TURN


RIVER


SHOWDOWN
Hero shows
Seat 2 shows

Hero wins $860, Hero wins $1,295
.................................................. .......

[MAX]

I would give him odds to chase a second best flush, but don't like slowplaying becuase I want to build a side pot. If I though that I could induce a bluff by checking, I would. But, with a dry sidepot there will be little motivation for opp. to bluff. I think he probably has a pp smaller than Q/AK and am betting out small here (maybe 150 or so), hoping for a reraise or call. Being that you are offering implied odds on your whole stack, I can see an argument for a bigger bet, but with the redraws, I am comfortable trying to bring opp. along for cheap.

[Borax]

I would give him odds to chase a second best flush, but don't like slowplaying becuase I want to build a side pot. If I though that I could induce a bluff by checking, I would. But, with a dry sidepot there will be little motivation for opp. to bluff. I think he probably has a pp smaller than Q/AK and am betting out small here (maybe 150 or so), hoping for a reraise or call. Being that you are offering implied odds on your whole stack, I can see an argument for a bigger bet, but with the redraws, I am comfortable trying to bring opp. along for cheap.

My thought during the hand was to make him believe that I was semibluffing with or similar and that my all in move would have him call with a pair, AQ, KQ or maybe still with any flush draw (He was no fish though). In fact I thought a small bet from my remaining 860 stack would look strange and smell of a value bet that would make him fold anyway and that with the Q on the flop he might have hit something allready. But I see now that a smaller bet might have given me a better chance of getting him to stay in the pot. Thank you for advice

[Fnord]

It's already a big pot and it's tourney poker. 2 good reasons to want to maximize your chance of winning all the money that got into the pot pre-flop.

[Borax]

It's already a big pot and it's tourney poker. 2 good reasons to want to maximize your chance of winning all the money that got into the pot pre-flop.

True, but isn't the side pot issue important too? You would also have pushed here?

The small stack is All in PRF and shouldn't I try to build a side pot as well with a draw to the nut flush (if he hasn't got JT that is...) and my AA? My push was done without any hesitation at the time, but after his fold I felt I should have given it some more thought. I was happy to win a nice pot and knock out the small stack of cource, but I still think my push might have been to quick

I should add that my read was that this was a solid player that usually showed a real hand when involved.

[Fnord]

True, but isn't the side pot issue important too? You would also have pushed here?

It's still quite possible that your tourney cash EV is better off if you're only up against 1 other hand.

[Borax]

So Fnord, do I understand you right, that the push can't be wrong here, while a small bet might get me into trouble and I should take the PRF pot and be happy with the hand?

[Fnord]

So Fnord, do I understand you right, that the push can't be wrong here, while a small bet might get me into trouble and I should take the PRF pot and be happy with the hand?

Yup.

Also, if he has a clue, it's not like you're going to draw a push into a protected pot from many hands that wouldn't call your continuation push.

[Borax]

So Fnord, do I understand you right, that the push can't be wrong here, while a small bet might get me into trouble and I should take the PRF pot and be happy with the hand?

Yup.

Also, if he has a clue, it's not like you're going to draw a push into a protected pot from many hands that wouldn't call your continuation push.

Yes, thats a good point. Thanks!
Sometimes going after a small stack leads people to believe you don't have more than a couple of face cards, Ax or a low pocket pair though. That's why I bet the excact size of the small stack.

[Scuba Chuck]

So Fnord, do I understand you right, that the push can't be wrong here, while a small bet might get me into trouble and I should take the PRF pot and be happy with the hand?

Yup.

Also, if he has a clue, it's not like you're going to draw a push into a protected pot from many hands that wouldn't call your continuation push.

Unfortunately, you eliminate that possibility by pushing.