Hypothetical question based on hand from Sun Mil.

[IowaSkinsFan]

You have 17000 chips, blinds are 1k/2k, antes i guess 400? You're image is a little sloppy, you've pushed a lot, 4 or 5 times in the last 20 hands, one time you pushed A8 on the button and showed it down. The two players to your left are tight, one is a top 100 player in pokerstars MTT's. The other has barely played a hand since you've seen him.

It's folded to you on the BU, PS pro is the BB with 40k, SB has 20k. Is there any hand you don't push?

[Numbr2intheWorld]

objection your honor... leading.

sustained.

[cobere]

Blinds 1000/2000, ante 100 in the million...

With 8.5xBB left, I'm not pushing any two if it folds around to me here, especially if I've got image issues. If you discount the SB as a probable fold, the BB will have to call 15k into a 21K pot roughly 1.4 to 1. He would need about 40% equity to call. Given your image, I would think he would put you on a pretty wide range, increasing the chance of him calling.

With that in mind, I'm folding the really bad stuff like 53o, 82o, etc. I'd push quite a few hands, mind you, but I'd like to see something "reasonable". When I'm under 10xBB, I'm not looking to chip up by taking down the blinds anymore --- I want (need) a double up. So, I want a hand that can get that done without stressing the luckbox too much.

I'm not even opposed to going another orbit, if I got nothing but trash when folded to me, and/or raises ahead of me. I wouldn't be happy about it, and after going thru the blinds again, I'd definitely be in the "push any two" mode.

I suppose the question is what the BB would be willing to call with (you can still put a sizeable dent in his stack) and then, what should you be pushing with in that spot? What would be "reasonable"?

[johnny_fish]

1/2k antes 100, 17k stack, button 9-handed?

I'd say top 40-70%, depending on image/blinds.

[IowaSkinsFan]

How bout Q4o?

[cobere]

I'd think about how pretty the Q looks, then throw it away.

[chardrian]

I am not pushing any two, but I am pushing lots.

I am less likely to push hands like A6 than I am hands like 35.

[IowaSkinsFan]

What if the rest of the players at the table besides the two to your left are loose?
What other factors do you need to push a wider range here?

[chardrian]

I made a post last week on the three most important factors in playing a hand preflop:
1) your position
2) your fold equity (M and chip stack comparisons)
3) your cards

In this case you are in the best position and you have fold equity (you have enough of a stack that neither the SB or BB are going to want to gamble with nothing), so I really don't mind a push here with any two with no other info.

But... you gave us more info. You said you have a loose table image and you said that one of the players to your left is a very good MTTer. To me, this means you need to be a little more patient because either of these players are more likely to call with a wider range of hands.

So to push a wider range of hands of here, you need different factors. These could include a smaller chipstack (I think if you have 12k here you need to push no matter what as this opportunity is too good to pass up), a tighter table image, or a read that the two opps to your left are tight but not necessarily good (I would imagine the good MTTer is going to call in any situation which he believes is +EV)

[johnny_fish]

I am less likely to push hands like A6 than I am hands like 35.

I don't agree. Ax is pretty good with an M of 3-5.

[chardrian]

I am less likely to push hands like A6 than I am hands like 35.

I don't agree. Ax is pretty good with an M of 3-5.

yeah, u r right.

[IowaSkinsFan]

But will a solid player risk half his stack calling with Ax or 22-77?

[johnny_fish]

Sure. I'll take any risk as long as equity > pot odds.

[Phantaroth]

A6 gets called by KQ KJ alot, which is a pretty good spot considering stack / blinds...

[chardrian]

But will a solid player risk half his stack calling with Ax or 22-77?

A solid player will use his reads and knowledge of the game. If he concludes that you are pushing any two, than he will call with a better than average hand.