I was playing in a live limit O8 tourney yesterday. 104 runners. We started with $10k in chips and blinds started at 25-25 (25-50 limits). We had been playing for several hours and all the same players so I had a good read on the villains. Villain 1 was aggressive and definitely skilled. He was doing a fair share of pre-flop raising and often showing big hands but also was caught bluffing at least once. Villain 2 was pretty loose, playing a lot of pots with marginal hands.

On this hand (9 players at table), I had about $4600 in chips. Both villains had about $12k. Blinds were $150-300 with $300-600 limits. I was UTG with A - 2 - A - 5. I raised to $600. All folds to Villain 1 who 3-bet to $900. Villain 2 called and I capped it at $1200. Villain 1 and Villain 2 both called. About $4000 in the pot pre-flop.

Flop was 3 - 6 - 10. I bet $300 and both villains called. Turn was the 3. I bet $600 and both Villains called. River was the 9. I checked, Villain 1 bet and Villain 2 called. I agonized for a minute and decided to fold. My decision was motivated by two factors: (1) Villain 2's call made me nervous that he might have a 3 or the flush; and (2) although there was about $6500 in the pot, the $600 bet at that point was about a quarter of my stack. Would you have folded or called to the bet and call on the river?

I would have called. There's too much in the pot to fold.

I have the pot figured differently from you. You said three of you contributed T300*4 each on the first betting round, T300 eacn on the second betting round, and T600 each on the third betting round. Then on the fourth betting round, you checked, one villain bet and the other called, that makes T400 in the pot on the fourth betting round before if was your turn to close out the action. Presuming the blinds both folded to the action on the first betting round, they left a total of T450 in the pot.

T450+T300*4*3+T300*1*3+T600*1*3+T600*1*2=T7950 in the pot at the point you had the option of folding or calling T600 for the final bet.

7950/600=13.25. You were getting 13.25 to 1 to call the final bet (plus your own money back for the final bet). That's assuming the blinds both folded.

But even if somehow there was only T6500 in the pot, you were getting over 10 to 1 to call (plus your own money back for the final bet).

What's confusing about it is the caller. You probably figured the caller had to have something decent to call, since you were still in the action.

That's actually a reasonable assumption unless the caller is either very good or stupid. Either of those two extremes might call from mid position with you yet to act. The very good player might do it because he thinks the player betting is bluffing and if he merely calls, you'll assume he has something and you'll fold. The call here from a very good player is like a bluff on top of a bluff. The stupid player might have some other motive for calling.

The call bluff on top of a bluff is actually not an uncommon move. With two pairs, aces over, you just have to call too. You're stuck in the pot.

If it makes you feel any better, I've done the same thing (but not for a while).

You'll remember this experience and you'll be a better player for it.

Buzz

I think ultimately the possible flush scared me more than the three did. As I was contemplating whether to call I knew I had one spade and looked back to see if it was the A and it wasn't. Not having the A of spades really motivated me to fold. Given the action, it just seemed most likely that someone had rivered the nut flush.

It's a call because:
a- it's one bet to you, closing the action.
b- pot's huge.
c- low missed, and most straights missed as well.
d- you know these guys, and their known patterns match the action on the river.
e- Aces over is a decent hand.
f- you are a human being after all, and you don't deserve to suffer
when seeing worse hands after you fold.
g- forfeiting this pot might not give you many chances to fight later on.
In these tourneys, there are times when you just have to put the money in and pray.