Im playing $2/$4 blind NL at PokerStars.
MP ($48 stack) raises to $18. Cutoff ($175) reraises to $50. Im in the SB with [Kd].

I was in the middle of a big hand on my other table and didnt really have time to think this through.

Cutoff could easily just be reraising to isolate the MP shortstack and he doesnt really have to have a monster.
I could reraise which would pot commit the cutoff if he calls, but the MP might actually fold if I do this.
I could flat call expecting MP to call all in and go from there.

Which do you prefer?

I think the question comes down to how disciplined the reraiser is. If your read makes you think that you could take his stack by calling, checking the flop and letting him bet his QQ or AK...then that would be the thing to do.

If he's a good player, then reraising is the best option since hes not gonna pay you off after the flop anyway.

I think the extra $30 from the small stack isn't enough to worry about.

Of course...if the reraiser has AA...then this post is moot.

You'll be out of position for the rest of the hand, though you don't mention the depth of the money for either of you, though you'll obviously be calling at least which gives away alot of information anyway; to be doing that in this situation as you're effectively saying you want to tangle with both players, you're not bothered.

So, I'd say a raise is in order and hope that the shortstack has an ace to (hopefully) steal a possible out of the guy you're really after

So, what happened?

Molina

Sorry, didn't notice you mentioned the raiser had 175.

Personally, I don't mind losing half a buyin to AA when I have KK if I can get the money in pre flop.

Plus, after two AA vs AA and a KK vs KK hands this week, I wouldn't discount KK either.

Molina

Like I said, I didnt have time to think it through. I just called the $50 and the MP called all in.
The flop was J73. I checked with the intention of check raising but the cutoff check behind me.
The turn was a queen and I bet $40. The cutoff folded.
MP had AQ and I won the hand.

yes! i was right for once. the decent stack didn't give you any action. I figured that would be the case.

glad you got the small stacks money. you know he was gonna lose it to someone eventually.

I also like a flat-call here. I think it makes it look very much like AK if you just call. On the flop, I would have led into the pot with a $30-ish bet and see what happened from there. The CO is most likely to have 1 of 4 hands, of which two beat you and two you have dominated (AA, QQ, JJ, AK). The reason why I prefer betting is that you can get away from your hand more easily if he puts the pressure on you, as opposed to check-raising which would make you more commited to the pot if he's got the flopped top set or AA. If he raises big, I think you have to fold, and if he smooth calls you, it could either indicate a drawing hand or a monster. I'd probably check if he calls and take it from there.

I played this hand about a week ago, but I remember thinking that I was willing to play for my stack (unless an ace flopped) since the guy only had $125 left and the pot was $150 on the flop. Thats why I was going to check raise.