$5.50, Hero call with A high?

[RML604]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (3 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button (t5165)
SB (t1495)
Hero (t6840)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A.
Button raises to t600, 1 fold, Hero raises to t1600, Button calls t1000.

Flop: (t3300) 2, 3, 8 (2 players)
Hero bets t800, Button calls t800.

Turn: (t4900) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t800, Hero ???

(Assuming I do make the call...)

River: (t6500) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t1965 (All-In), Hero ???

So my first question here is do I call this turn? I don't remember opp's stats, but I don't think he was too wild, so he very well could have a medium pocket pair. On the other hand, this is a text-book spot to bluff at the pot.

Assuming I do call the turn, is there any way I can fold the river? I feel there's way too much money in the pot, and my A high very well could be best here.

[kmind]

AQ-high no goot.

If you feel like you are stuck with having to make small cbets due to your stack size then I'd just shove pre. He's almost never folding to that flop bet. You are calling turn to hit one of your (hopefully) 6 outs so if you think you have the odds for that go for it. River is a sigh and a fold.

[drmcboy]

yeah, your flop bet is so weird you can't get any info from it. make it 2k pre and shove any flop you miss. If you hit you can maybe check depending on texture.

Remember you're going to miss the flop most of the time, and think about stack sizes at all times.

[taipan168]

I agree with the others, your flop bet sizing is no good. You want to bet at least 1600 here, and if you feel you're pot committed and priced in to call if opps shoves over, then that's a strong indication that you should have just shoved preflop.

Honestly with 900 chips in the pot and you risking 5165, I probably just shove over preflop.

[0live]

Your flop bet is so much smaller than your preflop raise... why? Then you look even weaker by checking the turn... push harder on the flop or raise less preflop and insta-push on the flop

[Ryski]

I agree with the others, your flop bet sizing is no good. You want to bet at least 1600 here, and if you feel you're pot committed and priced in to call if opps shoves over, then that's a strong indication that you should have just shoved preflop.

Honestly with 900 chips in the pot and you risking 5165, I probably just shove over preflop.

Tai - I had a question about shoving over since I find myself in this spot a lot. There are 2 huge stacks and one small stack here. Isn't there something to be said against going to war with another big stack and spreading equity to the others at the table? Or does this not apply since everyone is already ITM and we are playing for first? Is it a leak in my game to flat call with AQ OOP and re-evaluate on the flop? I'm in no hurry to bloat the pot against a large stack with a shorty around.

[taipan168]

Tai - I had a question about shoving over since I find myself in this spot a lot. There are 2 huge stacks and one small stack here. Isn't there something to be said against going to war with another big stack and spreading equity to the others at the table? Or does this not apply since everyone is already ITM and we are playing for first? Is it a leak in my game to flat call with AQ OOP and re-evaluate on the flop? I'm in no hurry to bloat the pot against a large stack with a shorty around.

There is still an ICM effect when you're 3-handed but it's not nearly as stark as it is on the bubble. It does depend to some extent on how aggressively the button has been playing, but most players will really open up their raising range at this point so your AQ is way ahead of their range. Plus because you're the big stack, you have huge fold equity here since if opp calls and loses HE will be out in 3rd. Lastly, even if he does call, there will be a number of hands that he will have that you're ahead of (think AT/AJ, maybe KQ).