Pre-flop action vs AQ

[NichaelBluth]

PokerStars Game #23171274809: Tournament #128881325, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/12/22 22:27:53 ET
Table '128881325 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 3: NichaelBluth (2430 in chips)
Seat 5: bdiddy114 (1435 in chips)
Seat 6: Kaala (9635 in chips)
Kaala: posts small blind 100
NichaelBluth: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to NichaelBluth [Qh Ac]
bdiddy114: raises 1235 to 1435 and is all-in
Kaala: calls 1335
NichaelBluth ????

[taipan168]

I usually just fold this despite getting pretty big pot odds and hope that the big stack wins. If the BB was 400 or 600 then a call would be mandatory.

The problem with shoving over is that the big stack will call 100% of the time, and if the short stack wins the main pot and the big stack wins the side pot then you're out in 3rd. The problem with calling is that if the short stack doesn't get knocked out then you're left very short indeed.

[bigspenda73]

I'd have a lot of trouble folding this seeing how scooping the pot means you'll start Heads-up play nearly even.

This is def. a spot where knowing ICM seems huge

[NichaelBluth]

I layed it down. Big stack had like A-10o and shorter stack had A4s (hit his flush, but I 100% realize that is irrelevant in this discussion)

[baudib]

Pretty hairy but shortstack is shoving light and big stack is calling light so I'm probably calling.

edited: Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I'm calling all the time.

If you scoop, you're heads up in great shape, as spenda says.

If big stack wins you finish second.

If shortstack wins sidepot but you win the main pot, you're in pretty much the same shape chip wise, although you're now slightly behind the shortstack.

It's going to be rare that the shortstack survives and the big stack knocks you out, so I think you should call.

[gingerwizard]

I think the probability of gaining equity by folding outweighs the probability of gaining equity by calling.

Hence I fold

[Rage2100]

I'd call. Short stack could be shoving a weaker A, and he has to beat both you and the big stack to stay in. As spenda says, if you win this pot, you are in great shape for the heads up.