PokerStars - 20/40 NL (3 max) - Holdem - 2 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 19.8 BB
Hero (SB): 17.7 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 7

Hero raises to 17.7 BB and is all-in, BB calls 16.7 BB

Flop: (35.4 BB, 2 players) T 4 8

Turn: (35.4 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (35.4 BB, 2 players) 5




prize was $2.5 for a .25 buy-in spin and go

It sucks that you ran into another pocket pair that was higher than yours, but I think it's fine. It's in line with Nash push/fold.

If you raise to 2x-3x, he probably 3-bets to 6x-9x (which is 1/3rd to 1/2 or more of your stack) or puts it all in anyway, and it's really hard to fold 77's in that spot. There are some opponents where I'll shy away from all-in situations (because they're really passive overall and I think I can crush them playing small pots), but under normal circumstances it's probably all going in the middle anyway, so I think the shove is fine.

thank you for your comment, it was really helpful. Take care

According to HRC, just shoving preflop wins you 3.5 bb on average; but if you raise to 3bb with intent to call a shove, you win 5.4 bb on average. Next time a spot like this comes up, don't shove but raise.

As for the result, well, coolers happen.

Agree with @Alanbostick. I like to raise there pre, but don't want to get all in.

With a medium pair, I want to see the flop first. If it's not a scary board, I will play aggressive, but still not looking to go all in unless I hit a set and there's no big draws (flush/straight).

I'm not looking to push with 77 unless I'm short stacked.

Hero starts with only 17bb. It's not like we're deep-stacked.

If we raise and get called, we are pretty much shoving every flop except the very worst.

Maybe with ~10bb or less to shove. 17bb and I'm not in a hurry to get all in and hope for a coin flip, hopefully not dominated. I just don't get too excited about a mediocre PP.

If we weren't relying on tools like ICMizer or HRC and were constructing ranges from scratch, at 17bb, I think we want to open/shove (or call AI) with our very strongest hands, open/fold with weak hands that have some equity and more blocker potential (e.g. A7o or KTo) and shove with a range in between, hands whose equity we want to realize and not get blown off of through postflop play. Crappy pocket pairs belong in the third range, the shoving range.

I would have a hard time, without the software tools' help, deciding whether pocket sevens belonged in the shoving range or the open/all-in range. My having run the hand through HRC, it is clear to me that 77 belongs in the open/all-in range.

77 is a pretty sexy inducing hand this deep. When 3 betted of cause get it in.

22-55 is much better shoving candidate.

Shove is better if you want an "aggro image" . I mean we can start to fold from SB and waiting for a good hands. And this is +EV. And 77 is very good for shove. Can be limp-shove, if you used that earlier (limp). Can be raise (2x), if he is some passive fish or All in ape. But as default shove is a good option.

You shouldn't open shove this or almost anything for that matter 17 BB deep.

You can minraise and call a jam, limp and call an iso, or limp and rejam an iso (vs more aggro opponents at least). Many more profitable options than open shoving. You only start playing a pure push fold strat HU around 7 BB effective or so, and you start open shoving many hands around 10 BB effective, deeper than that there are only a few open shoves.

Edit: Also, looking at some of these replies, minraising is better than raising 3 BB

Depends on the player, on the hand. I made a mistake in my post. "I mean He can start to fold from SB". And this is true. Many people, when they see shove with a "big" stack, start to fold from the SB and wait for a hand. And the small pocket pairs are the best for this. And some Ax hands. But this is 0.25 . Doesn't really matter. Just limp-shove. This is the best option vs very weak field. But shove is close. He will snap call with 22 and A5.

And yes, 3x is so lame...

"but if you raise to 3bb with intent to call a shove, you win 5.4 bb on average."

And this can't be true. What is this ? 5.4bb profit. With 77...And the HRC "told" that? Impossible...I must see this...

Edit: According to "my" HRC, 3x can't be 5.4 and actually 3x is worse than shove. You use the "default" settings. 40%+ shove vs 3x. I think even at 0.25 rare you will see this wide range vs 3x. For 3bet...Even if this is some "shove-ape" , vs limp he will shove almost any hand. So much profitable...

Pffff...Mate..What is this!? I made a mistake. lol...If you raise 3x with plan to shove on "almost any flop", with 18bb stack, I think you can't win even 3bb here. Just shove pre then . What flop you want to see? With 77... A set? Or 654? Very often, very often. Just shove OTF..Blind...

Just use 2x and use a normal play. Small bets, bluffs, "thin value", check-back, bluff catch. 11k posts, 2002 year. What is this!? Are you serious? Unbelievable...

18bb actually is pretty big stack for "spin and go". What is wrong with you? Shoving blind OTF with 2.5 SPR...With such a hand...A pocket pair...And IP...What if he bet 2bb? Still a shove ? Amazing...