I know it is oxymoronic, $25/Free Roll, but a few dozen people paid the entry fee of $25+$5, most of us got in free on a high hand promo. We started 108 players. It's a turbo so I played super aggressive. I wanted to jump into at least the table lead or go back to my cash game. I was AI twice in the first 3 hands and doubled up. I was AI 6 more times in the first 2 orbits, losing only one hand with AK vs QQ. My early strategy worked and once we got down to 4 tables, I played a more normal TAG strategy.

We were down to 9 players on two tables, 4 at my table. I am largest stack at my table by a small margin and 2nd largest in the tourney. It's a turbo so the blinds are moving fast and I only have about 15BB.

I'm UTG/CO, see JJ, and say raise. I always pause when I announce a raise to observe the other players. So before I can move a chip, Villain, the BTN, jumps and says ALL IN! like it is an orgasmic experience for him.

I'm not a tournament player. I'm thinking WTF. The other 2 players fold and I still haven't had a chance to move chips. The dealer says to me that I have to put out at least 2xBB and fold or I can call. I do the counting and I'll have about 3BB if I call and lose.

The BTN has already announced that he is never going to chop and stood up to considerable pressure from everyone else. A 9 way chop means everyone gets 4th place money, but he repeatedly says no.

If I lose the hand I'll likely go out 9th and get $79 which isn't a terrible result for the 2.5 hours I've put into this game. If I win the hand, V is eliminated and we could consider an 8 way chop with me as chip leader.

About 10 minutes prior, on returning from a break, I checked the other table. The chip leader had between 20 - 25 BB, then me with 15BB, V has 13BB and the remaining 6 players are all in the 3 to 7 BB category.

I've only been on this table for about 30 min and in that time V has been fairly conservative and tight. I've not seen him 3B but I have seen him GII and win with 88 vs a very small stack.

JJ is pretty premium at a 4 person table. In my fairly uninformed estimation, I give V a range of AQ+ and 88+. Do I call?

Was his excited ALL IN a trick to get me to min raise and not get pot committed because he doesn't want to risk his tourney life?

Dont waste all the mental energy! Live reads help when it’s close. This isn’t close. JJ 15bb, 4 handed. Fist pump gii !

Well I did insta call. V showed AK

I asked the dealer for all low cards and was happy for a second or two when all the cards were low and then I realized V had flushed. I hate t when the poker gods grant you your wish but you weren't clever enough to ask for the right wish.

I was 50 / 50 vs V based on his range, so I'm thinking I should have given up my 2BB min raise and waited. I would still be 3rd best chip stack and other players would be dropping fast because of their micro stacks. I could have probably folded my way into 5th or 6th place money.

The money was so small it doesn't really matter, but I'm looking for a guideline for the day when maybe the money does matter.

Don't be focused on results. You played it correctly, Im not folding JJ to a shove from a player I don't know that well.