Here's the situation. $1500 freeroll with 188 players. I played for 4 hours. 21 players left. 20 get paid. Pay structure is as follows.....

1 - $412.50
2 - $255
3 - $172.50
4 - $127.50
5 - $108.75
6 - $86.25
7 - $67
8 - $45
9 - $30
10 - $22.50
11 thru 15 - $18
16 thru 20 - $16.50

I have $12000 left. Blinds are 1000/2000. There is an away player at another table in the BB w/ $2100 left. He will be blinded out of his last $100 next hand.

I pick up QQ UTG. Push or fold? Action below.......


























































I pushed quickly before I could talk myself out of it. CO calls with AKo and hits his river K. I finish on the bubble at 21st and throw a fit. I pushed because my goal was Top5 and pushing gave me the best chance to accumulate chips with what was probably the best hand at the table.

Question #2. What do you think about his call w/ AK there. I'm not so sure I don't fold. He has about $3000 more than me.

Ok, but here is my thinking on that.

- He doesn't have the blinds coming up for awhile yet.
- He only has A-high. He is slightly behind any pocket pair, but has a walk into the money by folding and will not be crippled next hand. If he has AK and there are no bets ahead of him it's a little more open, but someone has just told you that they have a hand. He really has to hope that the pusher has Ax to not be putting himself in HUGE jeopardy.
- If he is paying attention at all, he must see me as ultra-tight and I have to have a GREAT hand with someone soon to be blinded out at another table and burst the bubble.

I couldn't fold the Queens, but I really think AK (if the money was bigger) is not an automatic call here.

not sure why you threw a fit -- good play if you want to make top 5.

i like his call because he either gets a good stack to move up the ranks with once ITM, or he is able to limp ITM for a small cash. that's win-win in my book.

Yeah, you guys are right about him having the $3000 or so left over making it a better call.

The $16.20 wouldn't have meant anything of course, but adding $100 or more to my bankroll from a freeroll is nice. Sometimes though after playing for 3 hours it really drives you nuts not to make anything for your effort. At times making the money is a moral victory to see something from your efforts even if it's just a couple of dollars. I've had WAY too many bubbles in MTT's the past month.