My first post here, I'm sorry I don't know yet how post formatted hands yet.

While I'm not new to poker and I played for about a year with friends in home games about once per month, I always played for fun and never studied until about a week ago when I started reading some strategy threads I found here in a sticky.

I was playing today on pokerstars at the lowest stakes and I run into this spot, blinds 200/400.

CO: less than 3BB fold
BTN: 7BB fold
SB: 16BB shove
Me: 7BB with 88

I'm still trying to wrap my head around ICM and I know it will take a while but even without that I know I have to be very tight here considering the small stack and the almost equal btn stack.

My question is how tight? I folded the 88 and as a 'guesstimate' I would call here with QQ+ and AxKx.
Is this too tight? Or should I call JJ and KxQx for example?

I know the SB is pushing probably... well, everything but pure garbage knowing I can't call because of the 3BB stack.

Thank you

Really recommend getting ICMTrainer (it's free) to practice spots like this. You can input these type situations into it as well, or use the online calculator at HRC (http://www.holdemresources.net/nashi...bb=400&ante=25).

You do have to be pretty tight here but it looks like you can call 88. If the SB is pushing less than any 2 cards though you might need to be a bit tighter.

If he knows you fold 95%, he should be pushing any 2 cards.

ICM is a bit tricky and as already suggested, if you have any interrest in getting better there is no way around getting an ICM calculator and playing with it extensively.

Im too much out of shape to give you a calling range.

I would check this hand in an ICM calculator. Then I would check my reads on CO, BTN & SB to decide whether I want to be tighter or looser than ICM. And act accordingly.

Highly recommend ICMIZER.