$10 online MTT

9 Handed table early stages

UTG+1 (30bb) raises to 2.2bb
MP1 (100bb) calls,
BTN (40bb) calls,
Hero SB (45bb) dealt AJ?

BB (40bb)

folding here seems nitty, and calling to play OOP 4 or 5 ways seems meh, if we squeeze here to something like pot (13bb) and we get called in one spot we'll be left with something 27bb into a 34bb pot. or worse, put in a tough spot if we get jammed on.

default would be to fold. Could 3 bet/fold sometimes vs certain people.

Why are you put in a tough spot if you get jammed on? It seems like if someone jammed you'd have a trivial fold.

Well if we raise to 13bb and utg jams for 30bb total we get ~4:1 so I think it should be a call, even tho we are hugely behind. If BTN jams.. yeah it’s probably a fold but I think it might be closer than you think if you remove QQ+ from their range


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I don't think you have to go quite that polarizing of a sizing to squeeze I guess rather.

Yeah maybe something like 10-11bb would allow us to get away, but now if we get called it sets up some pretty awkward stack to pot ratios OTF.

This kinda brings me to my next question. Should we ever be trying to squeeze vs an EP open*? Seems like a silly question but I think we’re just going to run into too many strong ranges. Maybe we should save this play for MP/LP opens

*unless we know the OR to be a LAG player

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You can even shove. 8bb pot and UTG 30bb...I will just shove...Whatever...

I think raising looks a little more dangerous, would you jam AA/KK here?

Raising also gives us additional FE when we raise, get called and Jam the flop.

It also has the benefit that we get away in some cases: ex. If UTG jams, and MP or BTN call. or if BB calls/jams and gets a caller/overshove.

Yes, it is true. But this hand rare will hit the flop. Can be very ugly. More often will be ugly. If someone calls. Also , 13 blinds squeeze, it is difficult to fold then. At least for me...If someone calls with some stupid hand, actually they can play pretty well against you. Hand like T9s. Or KQ....I don't know, must be "blind" shove OTF. The hand is not suitable for this. Imo..Yes, if I use NAI 3bet, my range will be only top, very top. But who cares!? 10$...Who is thinking about my range? At $10...

Listen, the call also is an option. Not a bad option. In the tournaments very often you will be in a similar situation. A strong hand, but the things are so ugly. The stacks, the action, the ICM. You "should" use an aggro move. At theory...But you just can't. The theory don't cover some things. From the reality...

Yeah the hyper aggro plan is good in theory but bad in practice here. Just no need to. Not squeezing vs an EP small stack range

I guess it’s close between call and fold. If we call we don’t really want to play post flop vs original raiser but we could wind up making chips small balling vs others

Why you don't want to call? Are you afraid of BB? Will be some lose from Sq, but very small. Just don't look at this hand as "Ace with good kicker". Just play for the pot odds. A9o is bad here for call. Imo...
Yes, they are three players, most likely four. But postflop they will be not so "brave".

It’s not the squeeze it’s the prospect of playing 3 more streets OOP to everyone with a fairly mediocre holding means there will be an element of guesswork going forward .

Not exactly afraid ....more like cautious, like I said it’s a mix of fold or call and which way is probably more a function of whale ID and how distracted I am by other tables

You can hit OTF trips, two pairs or straight. Several percents...Nut straight, almost always top two and trips with top kicker. The people pay more often at KQT, JJx, AJx, AAx....If you have only an Ace or Jack, UTG bet big OTF, easy fold. That's is the problem. Some people just can't fold with TP. Several percents, but you can have other things as well. Gutshot, nut FD...With over cards. Will be rare, but the price is so small (1.7bb), no need to be often. And ofc the spots with pair. Sometime will be +EV. Small bets or checks even. From the other players.

You see, the fold is minus 50/100 or -60/100 (ante). You must only win more than that. Let's say minus 20/100. A little more. And you have an opportunity to double up, this is very good for MTT. The squeeze will be only ~ -20/100 loss. Most likely...

I still will go AI pre ...But just for the topic...