I posted about the 78 hand earlier, and these 2 hands came up later in the same Sit n go. After I won that pot, I played tight and decided I was gonna protect my chips until the blinds began escalating. I sat and folded for about 15 minutes when I saw red tens two off the button. UTG limps, and I make it 200 (blinds 25/50). I am the big stack at about 2800. SB calls, and so does UTG. SB only has about 400 left, and UTG has about 800 left. Both players seem a bit loose-passive.

(3 players) Flop: [6d][3d] (Pot: T650)

SB checks, UTG leads for 50, and I raise all-in. SB calls, and so does UTG. UTG has AJo, and UTG has 88 for the top set. I don't get any help and lose the pot.

Was I being too aggressive with the all-in here? UTG's bet was a little bit suspicious, but after he bet 50, in order to raise the size of the pot I would essentially have to put the shortstacks all-in. I figured neither to be on an overpair higher than mine, so I liked my chances of being ahead here. I think it's pretty obvious that smooth calling UTG is terrible, but who raises smaller here?



On to the second hand. Blinds are now 50/100, and and I have around 1850. UTG limps and has 1120 after calling the blind. Folded to the SB, who completes. I check with the [5s].

(3 players) Flop: [3s][3d] (Pot: T300)

SB checks, and I bet out 200 with my two pair. UTG calls, and SB folds.

(2 players) Turn: [3s][3d][5c] (Pot: T700)

I make top two pair on the turn and bet 400. UTG again calls.

(2 players) River: [3s][3d][5c][Ts] (Pot: T1500)

The river completes the flush. I check, and UTG bets 400 out of his remaining 520. At this point, I go into ultra deep-think mode. He could have been drawing for the flush the entire time, but with only 920 left on the turn, I thought it would be highly doubtful that he would call for almost half his stack with a flush draw and one card to come. He could have been slowplaying a 3, but why would he bet after the flush came? He could have an overpair, but he would definately have raised that either on the flop or the turn (if not preflop). When he called my two bets, I figured he was on a medium pocket pair such as 7s or 8s. Finally I decided that he had a medium pocket pair and figured I would fold anything less than a set. I called and he showed A9.

I bet the flop here because it seemed very non-threatening against only one limper. Does anyone check the flop? Check the turn instead of betting? Fold on the river? Comments would be appreciated.

By the way, I won the tourney after the 95 hand put me in a chiplead.

You did exactly the right thing on the first hand in my opinion. If you think about raising smaller you've got to think "under what conditions would I fold in this hand?" You're only scared of better made hands, and you've got a vulnerable overpair -- you don't want a cheap card to come out, and there's no way you're going to fold on the flop with that hand in an SNG.

The second hand, as I was reading it, I was scared of a higher pocket pair -- you might think you have top two pair, but because the bottom card on the board is paired, ANY overpair makes a better two pair than you. The only other hand I could imagine being played how your opponent played it would be A9, T9s or 98s... I would've been a little more hesitant, but then again I'm not very familiar with the skill level at the 50 level. As it turns out, you made a move in the first and third hands that worked out for you, and those are the only ones I disagree with, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Hand #1...youre only move is all in because UTG is short stacked.

Hand #2....When the baord is 933 and you have a 9, I dont like to refer to that as 2 pair. You really only have top pair.

An overpair beats you because of the paired 3's. Also, any 3 beats you. However, I was almost positive you had the best hand as I read the post for one reason. Why did the opponent bet 400 of his remaining 520 chips at the river? Because he wanted to have a few chips left if he lost. He wasnt confident enough in his hand. If he went all in, I would strongly lean towards folding.