Bubble to the Final Table

~180 entrants, down to 2 6-handed tables. I'm already ITM but shortstacked and getting blinded and anted to oblivion with a bigstack 3 seats to my right who is using it aggressively.

Is any A or pair good enough to push (M of 5)? Or do I have more breathing room than I'm giving myself credit for? I posted the 2 hands prior to the one in question just to give an idea of what he's doing.

ImSwiss is at seat 3 with 22710.
JeffMoney24 is at seat 5 with 13865.
teh_mewse is at seat 6 with 42115.
lapwing100 is at seat 7 with 41410.
Stylite is at seat 8 with 22240.
Hero is at seat 9 with 19485.
The button is at seat 7.

ImSwiss posts ante (150).
JeffMoney24 posts ante (150).
teh_mewse posts ante (150).
lapwing100 posts ante (150).
Stylite posts ante (150).
Hero posts ante (150).
Stylite posts the small blind of 800.
Hero posts the big blind of 1600.

ImSwiss: -- --
JeffMoney24: -- --
teh_mewse: -- --
lapwing100: -- --
Stylite: -- --
Hero: 8s 6s

Pre-flop:

ImSwiss folds. JeffMoney24 folds. teh_mewse raises
to 4400. lapwing100 folds. Stylite folds.
Hero folds. teh_mewse is returned 2800
(uncalled).

teh_mewse wins 4900.
----------------------------------------------------------------


ImSwiss is at seat 3 with 22560.
JeffMoney24 is at seat 5 with 13715.
teh_mewse is at seat 6 with 45265.
lapwing100 is at seat 7 with 41260.
Stylite is at seat 8 with 21290.
Hero is at seat 9 with 17735.
The button is at seat 8.

ImSwiss posts ante (150).
JeffMoney24 posts ante (150).
teh_mewse posts ante (150).
lapwing100 posts ante (150).
Stylite posts ante (150).
Hero posts ante (150).
Hero posts the small blind of 800.
ImSwiss posts the big blind of 1600.

ImSwiss: -- --
JeffMoney24: -- --
teh_mewse: -- --
lapwing100: -- --
Stylite: -- --
Hero: 4h 9d

Pre-flop:

JeffMoney24 folds. teh_mewse raises to 4400.
lapwing100 folds. Stylite folds. Hero folds.
ImSwiss calls.

Flop (board: As 4s Jc):

ImSwiss checks. teh_mewse bets 7500. ImSwiss folds.
teh_mewse is returned 7500 (uncalled).

teh_mewse wins 10500.
----------------------------------------------------------------


ImSwiss is at seat 3 with 18010.
JeffMoney24 is at seat 5 with 13565.
teh_mewse is at seat 6 with 51215.
lapwing100 is at seat 7 with 41110.
Stylite is at seat 8 with 21140.
Hero is at seat 9 with 16785.
The button is at seat 9.

ImSwiss posts ante (150).
JeffMoney24 posts ante (150).
teh_mewse posts ante (150).
lapwing100 posts ante (150).
Stylite posts ante (150).
Hero posts ante (150).
ImSwiss posts the small blind of 800.
JeffMoney24 posts the big blind of 1600.

ImSwiss: -- --
JeffMoney24: -- --
teh_mewse: -- --
lapwing100: -- --
Stylite: -- --
Hero: Ah 3h

Pre-flop:

teh_mewse raises to 6000. lapwing100 folds. Stylite
folds. Hero ??

I don't hate shoving here, but I would have rather done it on the 86s hand, not so much because of your cards but because with his bigger raise (which is a little spooky in itself) and your now smaller stack he has to call with a bigger range.

Same here, I'd have rather played the 8-6 hand, maybe with a stop-and-go angle.

I don't think you're desperate to play a hand yet when you get dealt the A3, however based on his aggression and if I thought he was playing loose enough I would push the ace now and hope it holds up, it may be your best chance of getting back in a position where you can challenge for a top 3 spot.

It's not a bad push with the A3s, but there are so many hands that are ahead of you. I would fold and look for a spot to open shove.

I wondered about the 86s hand. I was tempted to move with it, but something just had me wanting to push with an A in my hand instead. TanO-- when you mention a stop-n-go angle, do you find it better to call PF and then push the flop or just pot bet no matter what comes?

A lot of good players would prefer to push with scs than ace rag. Your Ax will usually be dominated.

If you're doing stop-and-go it's a call preflop and then push no matter what the flop is.

I feel you've just got more options when 8h6h comes up, you can (just about) afford to call and fold, or call and shove any flop, or call and hope to catch a piece of the flop. If you have a great read on the guy then maybe you'd see something like he only bets 1/2 the pot on the flop when he's stealing so you could check the flop and then if he bets 1/2 then come over the top of him.

A-rag push is hoping for the best whereas the 8-6 earlier with more chips lets you put some leverage on the hand when you get to the flop. Hope i've made sense there, bit of a ramble.

A3: easy fold, he can't fold anymore.
86s: call preflop is fine. Mix it up on the flop.