SnG MTT's Q's - Pre-flop Raises/C-bets/shoves/10-15BBs left?

I know the subject doesn't really make any sense but I'm stuck on a few things. I understand the shove game with 10bbs left, however last night I a fair few hands like A,K/A,Q/K,Q/K,J/pocket pairs etc.

These hands are identical to what they was but are the same in principle of hands and blinds left so I'd like your advice on some of these situations, what to do.

I must point out I shipped these hands pre-flop

So the first example is, A,Q in EP with 12bb/s left.

Blind are around 100/200, is that correct to shove? I mean - if I raise standard 3x for 600 I have 30% of my stack in the middle? If I get called I'm stuck, if I miss the flop. I kind of put myself in a situation where a CBET is no good, it's either ship pre or post regardless. Is that the correct play as I can't do much else as I'm nearly pot commited anyway?

A pair of 4'4s (again I shipped) only had 10bb/s left and EP, unfortunately got 2 callers and 4'4s just don't fair very well. This was on the bubble by the way, should I of waited for a better holding to ship or better position? I'm really unsure! Arrrrrrg

I had many more simular situations like this and the annoying one which I was comfortable shoving (maybe should of just raised to begin with?) I was UTG with A,K and had 13 BB/s left - antes were in play so there was like quite a nice amount in the middle to begin with. I thought at the time to maybe just raise it up, but I ended up shipping and go called by someone with Aces. Annoying but should I not of shipped it anyway? Should I only ship like this when I'm in MP or LP?


I guess my main questions are, what are playable poker with blinds left to raise with? I see you can't really do much even with 15bb/s as it's quite a big amount of your stack..I just don't like shipping it getting called and losing and then feeling I could of waited a little longer for a better position to be in..

I think I'm shipping wrong in some cases with mid pocket pairs in EP with only 10BB/s or is that correct? It just seems 9times out of 10 you get called by a large stack anyway. Limping seems pointless as I'd get shoved and raising again seems pointless as I'm committing myself again..The only other option is to FOLD and wait till I'm in LP or something..I dunno.

Of the hands that you mention the one that sticks out to me is the 44 shove from EP on the bubble with 10BB left. To me this hand is just a little too weak to do this with from EP (later position then perhaps). Depending on the table dynamics I might be tempted to min raise (which from EP can look quite strong) and then fold to a reraise as you're losing to any overpair and at best 50/50 with two high cards - walking away with 8BB left isn't a disaster. From experience I find that with a min raise like this I can get to see the flop if not take it down pre flop depending on how tight others are playing.

I have no problems with the AK shove (it's a 3 bet hand anyway) - you ran into Aces which is just one of those things. On the AQ my concern is your EP but again depending on the table I don't think this is a bad move and you're in good shape against all but a handful of hands.

Your comments seem to resonate with previous ones you made about shoving ranges in the Moshmann book. Looking at that he only advocates shoving with 22+ from 7BB left and in the cutoff so I think that justifies my view on the 44 hand above. He also recommends not to shove against many opponents with more than 10BB though.

Post some of the hand histories if you can find then. It'll make it a lot easier to say which factors mean it is/isn't a shove.
For example number of players left and opponents stack sizes.
Sounds like 44 is fold, AK shove, AQ probably shove depending on table factors.
But its hard to say without a lot of information.

It's hard to say without knowing relative stack sizes, number of opponents, etc. The 44 on the bubble would be a quick fold though (in EP). Also were you bottom stack of the entire tourney, that might make a difference but I still think I fold. I have also noticed that in micro MTT that most people are not really paying attention to stack sizes so much and a standard 3x raise might work it would still leave you enough for about a 3/4-1/2 pot c-bet (all-in) with only one caller, of course. I noticed they always want to see the flop but if they miss will fold easily. Otherwise you can always give up and wait for another spot with 7-12bbs left. I might shove with my AK/AQ depending on how deep in the tourney and table factors.

I agree with the above comments about the 44 from early position. I suppose when you're in early position and short stacked though, you know you're about to be hit by another round of blinds which will cripple you further which certainly focuses the mind. However, I would probably fold 44 here and wait to steal blinds with a weaker hand from a better position. The AK and AQ shoves with 12/13 BBs are something I would certainly do from any position. If the AQ runs into AK and the AK runs into AA, that's pretty unlucky and not going to happen every time.