Hero Call - Leak?

[Thunder]

I posted a hand in the SNG forum where I had pocket 7s, a guy went all in on a board of 4JJ and I put him on a missed Ax. At best he had 2 overs and thus a 25/75 dog so I called, risking most of my stack. I won and this play was vindicated by FTRers.

However, does this still hold true for MTTs? Especially if it's a satellite or winner takes all? Maybe I am being results orientated but in the past 3 MTTs (top prizes were a $15,000 WSOP ME package, a $20,000 holiday to S Africa & a $20,000 WPT seat + expenses package I have called and lost. In one case, I called pre flop with AK against an opponents 99 as I sensed a mid pair that didn't want a call. In each case I was well placed and above average.

Part of me says I can afford to pass and wait but another says that 75% is too good to pass up. And even the 50/50 of the AK vs 99 can be excused as you need to accumulate chips but then I wonder if a coin flip is too risky.

Thoughts please.

[drmcboy]

The structure of a standard MTT allows/requires you to play much looser than a 1 table SNG. This is even more true if it's a sat with 1 seat since chip EV exactly = $ EV (you must get every chip to win, and when you do you win everything).

If there are multiple seats it's a different story and play generally should be even tighter than a 1 table as you approach the prizes.

You are placing value on the time spent or time remaining in the MTT I think, but that has no value in a poker sense. The key factor is the payout structure. In MTTs the money is at the top so you can/should gamble more to try and get there. In SNGs the money is in cashing and then trying to win so you should gamble less.

Regarding the likely coin flip it depends how much money is in the pot. Also don't forget that people play AQ and 99 pretty much the same in most cases pre flop.

[Thunder]

Thx. Just to clarify, all 3 MTTs were winner takes all.

With regards to playing tighter with multiple seats at stake, this is true even if only the top 5 - 10% will win?

I ask because when I made it into the WPC it was by the skin of my teeth and wondered if I was being too passive. Top 4 went through and I slowly slipped from 1st down to 4th. I knew I didn't need to get involved and am sure other opponents sensed that.

[Thunder]

The structure of a standard MTT allows/requires you to play much looser than a 1 table SNG. This is even more true if it's a sat with 1 seat since chip EV exactly = $ EV (you must get every chip to win, and when you do you win everything).

Where does this leave you if you had an open ended straight on the flop? Under standard SNG play you wouldn't push/call all in but is this a viable play in these MTT circumstances.