Question about a hand in a qualifying tournament?

Question

4 players left. Top 2 advance to the Step 2 (6 steps altogether), 3rd tries step 1 again, the rest bust out.

Player A approx. 5000

Player B approx. 4000

Player C approx. 3000

Me approx. 2000 (in other words, I'm the short stack.

Player C (who was playing quite semi-loose passive before, often calling 1 bet pre flop to see the flop and then playing quite tight post-flop; has become looser and more aggressive as the shorter stack), is UTG and raises to 300 (blinds are 75/150). Players A and B fold, I call with 98s (spades) from the BB.

Flop is 2s3s8h

I check to Player C, who puts out a minimum raise. At this point, I have about 1500 left in chips and the pot is 750 (no antes, just 600 pre flop and the 150 he bet out at the flop). I raise to 750 and he moves all in. I call to see

AsTc

Naturally, the turn is an ace, and the river is no help. I bust out.

So, please nitpick and criticize and let me know what I could have done better in the hand (if anything).

Answer 1

it looks to me player c had nothing to loose... not in a disrespectful way towards yourself just in terms of play! he had a decent hand pre-flop and he was third place but not by much! he was trying to solidify his position and the hand made it easier! especially post flop! he obviously was sly betting by placing a mediocre bet to draw you in! he's clearly looking at the odds. he still has the higher cards and he is being the more aggressive so you are more likely to play his game! what i would have done is re-raised pre flop to make him think more! again i might have folded post flop if he placed minimum bet cos the flop is not too strong and would force me to think he might have high card even pockets. even though i was on route to a flush! i still would have troubled myself over his possible hand! basically re-raising pre-flop could have forced him to fold pre flop or even post flop...but then again looking at him placing bets in pre-flop might have made me bin my cards after calling to see the flop! it could have gone either way in my eyes!!! but thats the name of the game!

Answer 2

you played this hand absolutely perfectly...the only thing i could think of that you might have been able to do is fold pre-flop and wait for a better spot to invest your money considering that this is a tournament where survival is the critical factor, but since you were halfway in it's definitely not bad to call there...once that flop comes out you aren't getting away from the hand, and you trapped him into putting all his money in the pot as a big dog...he just got lucky on you, plain and simple

Answer 3

At this point in the tourney you are almost in "All in or Fold" mode.

You have enough chips to hurt all the players and you are playing to come in 1st and 2nd.

The way you played it, calling the raise from the BB, I would just push here and take it down. You then add 20-25% value to your stack.

The way you played it also is fine because he made a bad call and got lucky.

The secret to these 1st round steps, 1-3, is to play ULTRA tight/Aggressive.

Answer 4

Just my two cents worth.  four handed, short stacked....you dont call a raise.  You either raise or fold.  However, yall were on the bubble (at least 3d got that level again) , I believe I would have waited for a better possition to make my play.  While,  you dont want to get blinded out, you are not really playing for first either.  Mid suited connectors are great in an unraised four way or better pot, I dont care for them in a one on one situation, the math is not good for that.  Calling a raise, short handed and short stacked is the worst play you can ever make.  if you are going to be commited, push or reraise or better yet, pass on that hand, and make your stand on a better hand.

Answer 5

first off i see that you hit a flush on the turn, you dont say what cards he had and i am wondering how you busted out with the flush. if you busted out, he would have had to have 2 spades in his hand with one being higher than your 9. you should give more details like what his cards were so that we know what you lost to and busted out on. all i see is your A high flush. you dont even say what player c had to bust you so it is hard to criticize your play and what you should have done with not a lot of info.

Answer 6

1. You're shorstacked

2. You have top pair + flush draw

3. The only thing not in your favor, is your image because of the stacks. Being tight here is usually useless because your oppenent is so priced in. Therefore you have no fold equity.

Now lets look at oppenents range. Hes loose and agressive. However, when he min raises, we have to give him credit for a hand (I would never put him on ace high given your reads/lack of reads). I say any 8 or higher, all the way to a set. Add maybe 4s5s, and AsTs+. I gave him the following range:

88+,33-22,AsKs,AsQs,

AsJs,AsTs,

A8s,KsQs, KsJs,K8s,

Q8s,J8s,T8s,

85s+,5s4s,A8o,

K8o,Q8o

,J8o,T8o,98o,86o+

I then pokerstoved it and you had 53% equity. If you arent getting it in this spot, you are an uber fish.

Again, plz dont question yourself in these spots. Its insta shove right here, no doubts.

Answer 7

At the time he raises all in you were pot committed, so you made the right call.  I like your re raise with the top pair and flush draw, but I might have made a bet on the flop and if he pushed I would have called.

He raised w two over cards and had about a 25% chance to win, you put your cards in with the best hand and best draw so you just got unlucky with your aggressive play.