In my last tournament I had 88 in mid position on a 9 seated table, tournament was a $10 freezeout, 80 players left, blinds 400/200 with antes of 50 per hand.
I had 8000 chips, most players on the table had between 3000-8000 chips.

First 3 players all fold. I have 88, to be honest I am totally stumped, I really don't know how to play this hand. I ended up betting 2400 and luckily everyone folded. But given that I am only likely to hit another 8 11%, if someone calls pre-flop I would be in a spot of bother after the flop which would most likely have 1 or 2 overcards.

How would people play 88 here? Is it a case of going all in? Surely it would be wrong to fold or even simply flat call.

Any advice would be much appreciated thanks.

Hi Sbanks at 200/400(ante50) with 1050 dead money in the middle so to speak, you have 8k in chips you have a very awkward stack size of 20bb.

I would open for a raise of 2.2xbb here. then pending on board texture and villain Cbet and be prepared to Cbet many boards with one over card.

You have 6xBB here, to me shows you are not confident postflop and you are going to put your self in many awkward spots if called. as with 1050 dead chips in pot PF lets say one caller, leaves you with just under a pot size bet on the flop.

If you unsure on how to handle the stack post flop you can possibly jam PF?

Thanks RSS, that is great advice, it makes perfect sense!

Just open minraise as standard and evaluate the rest of the action. If you're going to open for a 6x raise with a 20bb stack you might as well open shove, but I don't think that's the most profitable way to play this hand.

Raise to 800-900 and see what happens.

You shouldn't be so afraid of seeing an overcard on the flop. If one person calls you, and you know they have some unpaired broadway hand (JT - AK), and the flop comes with one broadway card (K65 say), there's only a 1/3 chance your opponent has made a pair. You'll win the pot 2/3 of the time with a c-bet. If two overcards come, or if the pot is three-handed, well then you have to be a bit more careful. And of course if villains are calling wider with hands like A-rag or 44, then overcards are even less scary for your hand.

Finally, if villains have JJ-AA, you'll be a lot happier you raised smaller pre, assuming you fold to a 3bet from any credible player at the table. If a maniac 3-bets you, it's a trickier spot, but you'd probably be in that spot no matter what your raise size.

agree with m/r pre and re-evaluate based on action.

this is SOLID advice

Generally agree with the above.

The only thing that would change my mind is if all the stacks behind you were 4500-5000 or less. If this was the case then shoving is probably best (without info on opponents).