A9 in the SB to shortstack push ($16)

[taipan168]

Button's overall stats were 24/10, he had opened up when blinds hit 100/200. Is this a standard isolation raise?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero (t4192)
BB (t3335)
UTG (t4626)
Button (t1347)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, 9.
1 fold, Button raises to t1347, Hero raises to t4192

[MuddyWicket]

standard? given utg has folded he could do this with an extremely wide range imo.

[NLHE lahooozaher]

I'm not really a seasoned sng playa so excuse the naive question. Why push? He's not getting good odds to call if you just call and certainly likely wouldn't call with trash and if he pushes you have a very easy fold.

[MuddyWicket]

utg has folded, small stack then went allin and there is only the big blind left to act after us who needs very strong cards to even consider calling our allin. On top of that the small stack could be pushing with a wide range of cards that ours beat so we are probably ahead a good proportion of the time.

If we call and big blind calls we then get a series of dodgy post flop decisions OOP and I hate to be made to think too hard.

Calling is the worst move possible here and folding is better imo. Pushing gives the BB an easy decision which is to fold unless he has a monster.

[MuddyWicket]

Additionally if you just call the big blind could almost push allin with any two cards knowing you are highly likely to fold and then he gets great pot odds with trash cards.

[NLHE lahooozaher]

utg has folded, small stack then went allin and there is only the big blind left to act after us who needs very strong cards to even consider calling our allin. On top of that the small stack could be pushing with a wide range of cards that ours beat so we are probably ahead a good proportion of the time.

this part I understand...

If we call and big blind calls we then get a series of dodgy post flop decisions OOP and I hate to be made to think too hard.

This part I don't. I'm mostly a cashgame playa so I understand position and the importance but in a 0 sidepot I've always found the play relativly easy as usually it gets checked down and it's easy to bet/fold because usually your opponent knows you have a decent hand(top pair+) if you're betting into no sidepot.

Calling is the worst move possible here and folding is better imo. Pushing gives the BB an easy decision which is to fold unless he has a monster.

I think I understand this part and this is the part I'm most interested in. I don't think folding is better than calling, and I don't think raising is better than calling either. Mostly because the BB really can't call with much and won't push very often either because he's already in 3rd place and a bigger stack has already called the short stacks push and would not go against a bigger stack without a very good holding because he'd likely assume the bigger stack is almost always calling here..

Any thoughts? I'm not trying to say I'm right either so I hope it don't come across like that. I'm asking.

[NLHE lahooozaher]

Additionally if you just call the big blind could almost push allin with any two cards knowing you are highly likely to fold and then he gets great pot odds with trash cards.

I disagree because there is no sidepot, if there is a sidepot fine but he wins absolutely nothing by pushing with ATC here if you just call. Unless you're saying that he'll push because he will get good odds combined on both players chips already in the pot. That makes more sense if that's what you're saying but I still disagree because he will put himself down to 2k in chips while everybody else has ~4k if he loses.

[Da GOAT]

welcome NLHE.


true its not a terrible play.BTW folding sucks since button is shorty (if im shorty here im near pushing ATC).

calling, its true it will probably be just checked down.

pushing, hmm i guess i push if ive a stronger hand since i want all the chips therefore isolating is correct and you dont need BB to help knock him out.

just to add that to the BB a call by us is a weak move and usually means a weak hand so BB could just push a decent hand, which makes us fold and he is getting great odds on the allin. (just a note but doesnt happen often)

[MuddyWicket]

hmm. I don't actually think the bb is going to raise/push with any two but i think a9 is fairly strong against one player with randomn hand (bb) and your push signifies a lot of strength. Given its the bubble and you have him covered his calling range should be very tight. I'd happily fold AJ here and think hard with AQ. Chance of being called should be slim.

I think the point that being pushed off is fairly rare if you call is probably right but i think it is a good move as you are representing a very strong hand and have great fold equity and great pot odds when they fold. Most opposition players arent thinking players maybe.

[silu73]

I like the isolation push. Button's range is pretty big at this stage and A9o is likely the best hand. If I had a history with the BB then I could see myself calling to invite the BB to call as well and check it down.