Final table of a $20 MTT at UB. Survived the early monkey fest and got to the final table with less than an average stack, but enough to make some noise. We are down to 6 handed and Im in 5th place with 29k in chips. Chip leader has 120k, next two stacks have around 90k, and to my left is 4th stack with 40k and the small stack with 14K. Not much difference between 6th and 5th, but I would love to finish top 4 at the least. But Im playing to win it.

Big stack is on the button and Im in the SB. Its passed to him and he limps. I have QQ in the SB. Blinds are 2000-4000 with 200 dollar antes. I make it 16k to go, the BB folds and he flat calls.

Flop comes AT6 with 2 hearts. I have the Qh. I am not necessarily putthing the big stack on an A because I think he would probably raise with the big stack with any ace there. I am thinking small pair or KQ, KJ, something like that, maybe even a suited connector like 9Ts.

I could check and fold here and still have 12k left. I know ifi he does have an ace, he has a weak kicker, because he would surely raise with a hand like AT or AJ or even A9. I decide that I have a very good chance of having the best hand here, and there is a small chance he would fold an A with a low kicker (but he has so many chips I doubt it).

I push in and after a dwell up, he says "what the heck" and calls me with A2o. I get no improvement and am out 6th.

My options:

1. Check and fold to a bet. I would have 12k and with a small stack to my left and a tight 4th place stack, I could have easily built my stack back up with a few blind steals.

2. Bet half my stack. If he is going to fold, will the extra 6K make a difference?

3. Push in (which I did). I have a good chance of having the best hand, he might make a loose call with a worse pair or with a hand like KT (2nd pair) or the flush draw. If I win this hand, I would double up and be in a strong position to win. The big stack was definitely playing loose (and ulimtately finished 3rd).

The way I looked at it, if I folded, I could have hung on for 5th or maybe 4th and would be a longshot to win (outchipped 10-1 by 3 players). But if I played the hand aggressively and won I had a shot to win. I played it to win.

Any thoughts?

6 handed with QQ you should have pushed all in pre-flop. There is no other play at this point.

Once you made the play you did pre flop, you had no choice but to go all in after the flop even though you were beat.

Congradulations on making the final table and a great finish none the less!