This was the last hand I played in a $600 live tournament. First off, the tournament had a great structure, with 40 min levels on day 1 and 60 min levels day 2. The bubble had already burst a couple placings ago so everyone was back to playing 'normal' poker. Then I got busted on a tough hand against a very tough opponent, who ended placing 4th overall, so no saltiness here.

BUT

I think he played made the wrong play here and would like to know what you guys think.

So now I'll write the hand but from his perspective, and I'll reveal my own opinion, and my own hand if it matters, once I get a few replies. Ok on to the hand!

Hand
AK

Stack
Over 1 million

Blinds
8k/16k/16k bb ante

Position
UTG+1

Notes/reads

8 handed, very soft table, except for a 500k stack young semi-pro two seats to my left who has played quite tight so far, and a 430k stack young male unknown two to my right who has been very active since sitting down 2 levels ago.

He and I have been the most active on the table, and I have already leveraged my big stack/ big hands and have gone all in against him post-flop 3 times already, which he folded each time.

Pre-Flop

UTG folds, Hero raises to 35k, folds around to BB who calls. BB has 390k behind.

Flop

8A6. Pot 94k.

BB checks, Hero bets 40k. BB calls.

Turn

8A6 5. Pot 174k.

BB checks, Hero tanks for at least 60 seconds, then jams. BB tanks for 2 minutes, then calls for 350k.


What do you think of this line?

Pretty bad... Now the bb gets to fold everything that loses to AK and calls with everything that beats AK.

Is this an analysis of a bad beat thread? I.e. a thinly veiled whine?

I don’t like where this is headed.

Nope, no whine. I made a call with a marginal hand that was essentially a bluff catcher. So when I saw his hand, I didn't think it was the right play by him in the moment.

I like the general playstyle of putting a lot a pressure on the short stack, I just don't think this is the hand to do it with.