Was this the right thing to do?

[insomniac120]

I was playing in the pokerstars $20k gtd(11$ buy in, freezeout) the other night and just wanted to put a question out there about the hand i got knocked out on. So this is the situation.

The tourney started off with about 4000 people, so its down to about 350 players when i get knocked out. The blinds are 1000/2000 with a 200 ante, the average stack is about 40k, ive got 25k. I'm 4th to act with 5 people left to act behind me. Now that thats out of the way, the actual hand:
The big stack(200k+) min raises from 1st position(ive been taking notes and know that he does this quite alot and that it is weakness and not a trap) So ive been dealt AJo, at this time theres 8800 in the pot for the taking, ive been playing fairly tight and whenever there was a showdown ive had the goods, theres no maniacs at the table, so i decide to push, ideally i hope evry1 folds so i increase my stack by about 33%. But i ran into Kings AND Queens and the rest is history. (In case your wondering the big stack min raiser did fold)

I don't think i left any detail out but if i did let me know. Basically im just wonderin could i have waited for a better spot because of all the players left to act behind me(they all had fairly average stacks btw, no real need for them to gamble) or was my push correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Zach]

Honestly I do not see why you would push all in with any hand in that situation.

You are short, but not desperate.

You are in the money, with enough chips to last 40 or so hands if you just let yourself get blinded out - which would have moved you up $20-$30 bucks in winnings.

You have no idea what anybody behind you has.

You have probably one built in caller with the big stack, since your raise is not going to kill him to lose - and you can not ask for more.

They guy may raise a min bet alot, not sure if I would call that a weakness if he is a big stack though. It also makes it so you have no clue what kind of hand he might have, but you are going to have to pay a little extra to find out.

[jimib]

I agree w everything Zach said but would like to add something.

I think your basic thinking is flawed.

You mentioned that the first raiser was doing that alot but you didn't mention what you thought his hand range was, flawed thinking.

You didnt mention what range you thought those left to act might call with, flawed thinking again. With 5 people left to act this is pretty important. And they ALL had you covered.

Making a stand out of position with a hand that can be dominated by callers behind is a bad move. For example; depending on my stack I might only call there w AA, KK, maybe AK AQ QQ if i was really deep.

Now lets say you were on the button big stack min raised, and its folded to you, you could of 4 popped him, if he calls you now have a pretty good hand to see a flop with, because your read of him betting light.

Overall I dont think it was a horrible move with 12.5BB but it could of been better though out , seems you were focused on the raiser which really dont matter as much as the player left to act.

Anyway, good luck

[GypsyTea]

I was playing in the pokerstars $20k gtd(11$ buy in, freezeout) the other night and just wanted to put a question out there about the hand i got knocked out on. So this is the situation.

The tourney started off with about 4000 people, so its down to about 350 players when i get knocked out. The blinds are 1000/2000 with a 200 ante, the average stack is about 40k, ive got 25k. I'm 4th to act with 5 people left to act behind me. Now that thats out of the way, the actual hand:
The big stack(200k+) min raises from 1st position(ive been taking notes and know that he does this quite alot and that it is weakness and not a trap) So ive been dealt AJo, at this time theres 8800 in the pot for the taking, ive been playing fairly tight and whenever there was a showdown ive had the goods, theres no maniacs at the table, so i decide to push, ideally i hope evry1 folds so i increase my stack by about 33%. But i ran into Kings AND Queens and the rest is history. (In case your wondering the big stack min raiser did fold)

I don't think i left any detail out but if i did let me know. Basically im just wonderin could i have waited for a better spot because of all the players left to act behind me(they all had fairly average stacks btw, no real need for them to gamble) or was my push correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

YES

4000 in a freeze out Man I wouldnt of played it, I would have found a better game, its a loto, I bet poker stars are laughing all the way to the bank.

My 2c worth


GT

[insomniac120]

Thanks for the help guys. Your information will come in really handy and has made me realize that i need alot more patience and need to take into account hand ranges(something which i don't think about often enough). Thanks again for the help, i appreciate it.