KK in SB. Awkward stack size, A on flop.

[linaker]

It is folded around to me in the SB. I had not shoved yet and with 12BB I did not want to shove with just the BB, (who was tight) left. So I raise 2.5BB.

Of course an Ace flops, so I checked, hoping for a check behind, but instead he bets 800. Folding seems weak, but if I call I am committed and can't really fold to another bet on the turn. If I shove, then I am not likely to get any hands that beat me to fold, except maybe very weak aces. What do you think is best in this spot? Should I have shoved pre or on the flop?

GAME #2782414311: Texas Hold'em NL Tournament 2010-01-20 23:33:08
Table Tallinn, 397023031, 3390881771 (Tournament: Tallinn Buy-In: $5+$0.50)
Seat 1: Hero ($2,465.00 in chips)
Seat 2: PokerJunky22 ($3,500.00 in chips)
Seat 3: nikajub ($2,150.00 in chips)
Seat 4: ten55 ($1,570.00 in chips)
Seat 8: bedonkadonk ($3,495.00 in chips)
Seat 10: sdnereb ($1,820.00 in chips) DEALER
Hero: Post SB $100.00
PokerJunky22: Post BB $200.00
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Kandrol [Kc Kd]
nikajub: Fold
ten55: Fold
bedonkadonk: Fold
sdnereb: Fold
Hero: Raise $500.00
PokerJunky22: Call $300.00
*** FLOP *** [5h Ac Ts]
Hero: Check
PokerJunky22: Bet $800.00
Hero: ?

[taipan168]

Tough spot. Personally I think you have to give it up on the flop, which sucks but I think you're way behind here far more often than you're way ahead. I don't think a tight player would bet 4/5 of the pot after your check as a bluff since there's always the possibility that you checked with the intention of check-raising (ie. if he leads, he has something that he'll call your shove with).

As for whether to shove preflop, perversely against tight thinking players, shoving can be quite deceptive since they might call you quite light thinking it's a steal shove. That said, in game I would probably play as you did and pray for opp to shove over my 2.5x BB raise.

[danoxford]

If he's tight then as taipan says he's not folding to a shove over, and most times you're behind here. Fold and cry.

[djh860]

I think he hit the A. he will not fold it. The T check calls there.

[taipan168]

I think he hit the A. he will not fold it. The T check calls there.

Surely you mean that the T checks behind since Hero was first to act? Anyway, I agree that it's unlikely that anything we beat will make that kind of bet.

[linaker]

Thanks for the responses. It is hard to fold kings, but sometimes its best. I feel better about this now.

[SMRZ]

I like to start pushing at ~13BB with any 2 decent cards in that type of blind situation against a TAG.

All depends on your table image. If you have been stealing allot, then the push is even more effective.

I love being a thief for a few rounds then pushing monsters at 10x BB. The low stakes players love the spite call.

[baudib]

He's not folding making that kind of bet when he'll be getting like 2.5-1 on a call, and he has you beat.