First question:

An UTG tag opens 2.5x with an 80bb stack behind. A loose rec calls from the button. I am in the sb with 55 with 22bb. I look left and the reg sitting next me doesn't look like he's gonna fold. I call. He does shove with 30bb, and everyone else shoves when it gets back to me. Hero?

I debated folding pre all together and was thinking later that even if it was just the orig opener and me it might be a shove or fold... is that correct?

Second question:

With AKs utg having 18bb behind do we just open shove this? If so what is the range?

I don't think flatting 55 from the sb is bad if you want to set-mine, but with your stack size I would also 3-bet shove sometimes. In the sb with 55 and three players that have you covered all-in in front of you is probably a fold.

AKs utg with 18 bbs I would usually just put out a normal raise, intending to gii after any 3-bet.

55 is a trivial never call pre. If this thread were posted in small stakes I'd have been happy to elaborate. This sub-forum should be reserved for more nuanced spots.

AK depends on player profiles but would be a raise-call on an appropriately aggressive table.

Hand 1)

If you looked left and got a read that BB is interested and with his stack size, calling would not be my default play. My default play would be to 3b or fold. Since it was an EP open, I don't think your 3b bluff range should be large enough to contain these small pairs, so probably a fold.

The main reason is that his stack size is set up for a perfect 3bet shove with a open raise and a call(s). Unless you can call off to his shove (which you can't in this spot with this hand, don't call).

Hand 2)

The question is a bit unclear. Are you saying you are UTG? Or the situation is the same as hand 1 and the UTG open only has 18BBs behind and you have AKs instead of 55?

If you are saying you are UTG with 18BBs and AKs, I would open 2.2x - 2.5x and call a shove.

Fold 55

Open AKS

Don't lecture players about forum rules when you can't even answer the poker logistics correctly.

It is what it is. People posting basic questions in mid-high because they believe the small stakes forum is beneath them. Detracts from both, both of which I browse.

1. Pretty easy fold IMO.
2. Open as standard. Play accordingly.

my bad it was a 340 bi tourney at the MN FALL POKER CLASSIC at Canterbury in Shakopee.

I can post in the ssmtt forum there as well.

Thanks for not taking grave offense

I don't agree with previous posters here. I would call set mined the 55s. I'd also get it in in the baby flops giving me a draw (234, 346, ...)

Second hand, depends on table dynamic, if it's one of the passive ones where i'm never gonna be 3bet except by AAs or KKs I'd shove. If it's one of those where i saw light 3bets before i'd put a standard raise.

If you have a somewhat reliable liveread that bb will call then flicking in the 2bb here for a pot that'll be 11-12bb is probably +EV. Even if it's not, at the very least the question isn't ridiculous.

Fair enough, calling isn't outlandish to the point of being beyond question. My bad.

bang bang

This

1) i d call pre / your stack depth suck but i d still call sometimes in that precise spot. More so when you re able to get a valuable live read. You ll still have a playable stack to go w/ when you miss the flop. Wouldnt recommand to 3b gii 55's in that precise spot vs UTG tag open, loose btn flat and still one oppo to act after you. You d be basically "hoping for the best". Their ranges contain higher pairs and lots of broadways. That d be a bit too high variance for me. Furthermore in a live tourney where you ll have other and better spots to capitalize on i d play 55 oop on 20 ish bb very slowly.

2) i d standard open gii vs any sized 3b / shoving isnt wrong tho but you ll miss value from weaker hands

Lets not get carried away now. The flat is still awful.

You can limp, min_raise, raise 2.25x or shove w AKs - it all depends.
I think I would never shove AKs for 18bb. Suit adds playability.

@55 you made 10 posts of bs controversy instead of posting some math or DB research.

@bearer

So you are saying the flat with 55 is bad? You would fold it pre?

Doug Polk would say this is an auto-fold.
Though Like someone said above if you have a really, really good read BB is going to call, like he already cut out his calling chips, or he has one chip in is hand and looks like he is going to toss it in then I think calling is okay.

But be careful you can really level yourself thinking you know what people are going to do /act.

I'd fold.

Btw, my first post wasn't made for my sake (directly). I have an active thread in small stakes entertaining folk who say 4b bluffing is unacceptable in level 1. Counting to three is not beneath me.

There has been a brain drain from this (sub)forum. Solvers, online poker in decline, sure they contribute. If we assume people mostly act out of self-interest and there is little "giving back", I don't really see much incentive for the excellent mid-high players amoungst you to keep coming back if even the foremost MTT strategy room is thick with beginner level questions. What could they potentially learn/gain? Give them incentive to lurk and post, which in turn gives incentive to excellent small-mid stakes players to lurk and post and so on.

Only reason I commented in this thread was cos my mind saw "22.25bb-18.65bb stacks play!!" and I thought it was gonna be super technical but OP didn't deserve me barking on him so I apologise.