is this a spot where we curse the format of a SNG?

[ed cooper]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 6.5 Tournament, 100/200 Blinds 25 Ante (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP (t2275)
Button (t2220)
SB (t2040)
BB (t3385)
Hero (UTG) (t3580)

Hero's M: 8.42

Preflop: Hero is UTG with ,

[ed cooper]

oops, didnt mean to post so early.
so we're folding here right?
what pocket pairs are we open raising with in this position? 88 or 99?

[rong]

425 in the pot, depending on table dynamics I may well be shoving here.

[caddie444]

I'd fold, prob shove 88+ AQ+

[FlyingSaucy]

Easy fold, it's not even close against normal opponents IMO.

[taipan168]

If the table is tight, you could make it 500 to go and take it from there. Your stack can take the hit when you fold if somebody shoves over.

And no, it's not a spot where you curse the SNG format. That time is when you're second in chips in the BB with AKo, the big stack to your left has been shoving like crazy and now open shoves into you.

[drmcboy]

didn't read thread, yes

[baudib]

With these stack sizes, you might as well chop it up. I'm not for giving up tiny edges in these spots, raise-fold is fine imo.

[ed cooper]

thanks guys.

perhaps im wrong but the reason i dont like raisng here is were folding to a reraise, and also if any of the other players flat call, we cant even take a stab at the pot considering their stack sizes (bb aside).

are most in favour of an open raise or open fold here?

if were prepared to raise fold then why arent we opening with more creative hands like j/q 10?

[taipan168]

perhaps im wrong but the reason i dont like raisng here is were folding to a reraise, and also if any of the other players flat call, we cant even take a stab at the pot considering their stack sizes (bb aside).

That's why I said it's dependent on the table, if there are 1+ calling stations to act then I'd just let it go for the reason you mentioned (combined with the fact that your flop c-bet won't have a lot of fold equity).

if were prepared to raise fold then why arent we opening with more creative hands like j/q 10?

Because hands like QT and JT have really bad reverse implied odds - if you get flat called and the flop comes Q or J high, you could lose a lot of chips finding out that you've been outkicked. With a small-medium pocket pair, if you hit a set on the flop your course is very clear, if you don't then taking a stab on the flop depends on reads and flop texture, but if your flop bet gets called then you can pretty much let your hand go unimproved.