5.50: 44, middle stage

i'm feeling uncomfortable with middle pocket pairs in middle/late stage, especially after limpers or minraisers. how do you play it? is shoving over okay?

No Limit Holdem Tournament
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG Titopoker59 (3855)
CO L373C (3130)
BTN janikkvak (2890)
SB Hero (1690)
BB kater katto (3435)

Blinds: 100/200

Pre-flop: (0, 5 players) Hero is SB
1 fold, L373C bets 400, 1 fold, Hero ?

I like a stop and go in these spots. Shoving over just allows him to call a wider range that you're at best ~51%. Calling and shoving any flop puts him too a decision with A high hands that bricked, that we have more equity against now if he decides to look you up. I think either way with 8BB you have to get it in here one way or the other.

I think at this point Im going to settle for a race (best case senario)...I shove

As I mentioned in your other thread, I think your own table image plays a big role here.

Is your opponent likely to call your shove with a tight range like TT+ AQs+, AK0?

Or is he likely to call with 88+, ATs+, AQo+?

Picking up the pot here adds 40% to your stack, which in my opinion is the ideal result.

I think you have to look at your own table image, as well as your read on your opponent and figure out if you have enough fold equity.

This one is usually a fold for me. If we shove over, we don't have a huge amount of fold equity and if we're called we are most likely flipping or dominated. Opp would have to be very LAGG indeed for me to shove over here.

Plus, with 8x BB left, we are short but definitely not dead.

Villain wants to play their hand. You don't really have any FE. Don't force domination or a race for yourself, find a better spot.

Originally Posted by brian1175

I think at this point Im going to settle for a race (best case senario)...I shove

This is terrible thinking. With 5 players left you are trying to survive and money this thing. That means that looking to get into races is not optimal. In this spot, hero has no fold equity and would be shoving over a big stack that probably has a loose calling range. IMO this is a fold.

If I were able to open the pot with 44 I'd gladly shove and take my chances. Having to respond to a raise is a different story, I think we'd have to let this go and wait for a better opportunity.

If I were the BB as opposed to the SB I might be inclined to try a stop n' go, dependant on the raiser's previous play.

I call and shove a low flop

Originally Posted by Sprayed

Originally Posted by brian1175

I think at this point Im going to settle for a race (best case senario)...I shove

This is terrible thinking. With 5 players left you are trying to survive and money this thing. That means that looking to get into races is not optimal. In this spot, hero has no fold equity and would be shoving over a big stack that probably has a loose calling range. IMO this is a fold.

You have 81/2 blinds 5 handed and the next closes has 14 1/2. I think it's inevitable that your going to have to go sometime and your probably not going to be too far ahead when you do. I dont totally like this spot but I think it's go time.