Aggressiveness usually wins...i vote for push it all w/AK

This same hand came up in the tourny we just played...i was utg w/AKo...and knowing about 6 other aggressive players were ahead of me...so i limped, hoping a short stack or someone would push...sure enough, Kowboy pushed, he was shortstacked...about 7 bb's....when he did, i knew he had a good hand, i even typed in QQ? but it didn't register because no chat is allowed on an all in...i called...be careful what you wish for, you might get it...the flop came with no A or K and i was starting to wish i hadn't called.
He DID have QQ...luckily i hit the K on the river...merely calling is weak...hoping for an A or K on the flop...most of the times, i don't know the %'s, you WILL win the pot right there, plus establish yourself as aggressive, and don't mess with me type of player.

It's all good.

IMO there are only two options here, push or fold, and I think both of them could be deemed the correct option depending on the player you are against.

Option 1) Push - At this stage of a SnG any player worth their salt is raising from the button for 4 BB's - with more or less any cards. You are ahead against every hand he will have except a pocket pair, and if he has a pocket pair he should only be calling your raise with something like TT - AA. If he does call with a pocket pair you are only slight underdog to every pair except AA & KK. The odds of the villian calling and you getting beaten must be considered extremely short, unless of course he is an extremely tight player....and this brings in option 2.

Option 2) Fold - This only applies IMO if you are against a really, really tight player who's raising range is the top 5 or 6 starting hands. At this stage of the tournament and with the chips being as they are, this is the one type of player you don't want to be involved with. He is the only one who can really hurt your chip stack, you can lose an all-in against one of the other two players and easily recover. You lose to this guy and you are struggling to get ITM. If this is one of those small percentage of really tight players, then I'm putting him on a big hand and I fold. I keep my chip lead and hope one of the small stacks gets knocked out before I take him on.

To sumarize - I'm pushing here nearly every time, with a small percentage of disciplined folds against a respected player.


Calling is not an option IMO because if you are ahead you are giving the villian a free draw to improve his hand. If you are behind and you hit an Ace or King on the flop, the villian will most likely shut down meaning you will only win the blinds. Finally you provide the short stack with an invitation to come over the top of you both, and you don't want to get into a 3 player race with AKo.