I am currently 1st in a 354 person tournament with 75 players remaining.

I look down at A8s UTG blinds are 350/700 with 85 Ante - I fold.

I don't feel comfortable playing that UTG this late in the tourney with many short stacks left to act.

What is the lowest Ax you would open with UTG at this level?

i would of made it 1975 with any suited ace and see what happens

So any Axs UTG you would 2.5x bet

6max or FR? Your stack size? Biggest stacks at the table? Reads?

6m or 9m and stack size plays a significant role, so OP you need to answer these questions. Also if it's a tournament ICM could play a factor as well.


at 6m and 100bb eff I open any AXs, if its 9m then I'd open significantly tighter utg.

A1s probly

As others have said there is no where near enough info to answer your question with anything other than a big fact "it depends". However here is one massive point...

(disclaimer - I've been working on my cash game for six months, so I'm out the tourney scene these days)

...as you get to the later stages of a tourney table image is huge. The regs and pros will sniff any weak player (esp if they are deep stacked) and come after them relentlessly.

You mention there are shorties, if your plan is to fold your A8s to a shortie resteal, then you must not open with it. If the sharks see you open UTG and fold to a shortie they will be all over you like a swarm of vultures.

If you plan to call the shortie, then it's down to stack sizes, ranges and ICM as others have said.

it seems fine full ring

Assuming you have a reasonable stack a 2.5x raise of any suited ace and AQ unsuited works for me.

Both are cards you can get away from on a reraise without costing you much, and both have potential to make strong hands if you make it to the flop. And, of course, against a really short stack with no fold equity, you lose next to nothing more to call and be ahead of his K5 suited or whatever he ends up jamming.

How deep are the players in the blinds? If one of them has a shoving stack that is too big for you to call, just fold pre.
I think ATs+ can be opened in almost any spot, and in some games I'd open all Axs. I think A5s/A4s are slightly more playable than A6s/A7s though, so you might want to avoid all the Axs that can't also make a straight using both cards.

You will not get into the long run in tournaments because there's not enough time for the math and ranges have any effect. In such instances you either have it or missed when the flop comes down. Of course it also depends on stack sizes but in general when the blinds are increasing any Ace at certain point is playable.

K

A5s, A8s+

most opens are determined by how passive the table you are at.

It is all determined by how the table will likely react to you open. Specifically the button should be paid most attention to since its will be the most active position.

can't tell from the info given

OK, well considering most people are short stacked and are likely to push with and Face x combo - I will be in a coin flip most situations when faced with a re-raise.

So assume that any point you have Ax - someone with a worse hand is going to push all in.

What's the lowest Ax you would flip with then?

UTG.....well with your new revision..... AKo on a full table with a good chance of getting pushed by at least one player behind..... Problem may be that a fuller stack will just call the push behind,,,trapping you if you hold anything weaker than AQs

I am not a tourney player though. Fold your way to the money seems weak. But you did say UTG. I hate UTG. Be the bully in late position...and bullying only goes so far when players are pushing any face.

I agree I would have made 2.5 bet you can always fold to a re raise and still not be hurt