UTG in Mid/late stages of MTT and SNG

Ok. Sample scenario

- Lets say $20 buy-in. Should be competent/solid players by mid-late stages of a MTT or SNG.
- Assume your on a table where most players have circa 30 Big Blinds

UTG Flat Calls:

My Questions:
a) What % of time do you think UTG has KK or AA?????
b) What do you do with medium PP or A/Picture in mid position? And why??

I have no magic answer - just interested in peoples views?......

calibanboy said:

Ok. Sample scenario

- Lets say $20 buy-in. Should be competent/solid players by mid-late stages of a MTT or SNG.

Click to expand...

Absolutely not. You are looking at about 1 in 5 solid, 2 in 5 ok but with big holes in their game and 2 in 5 bad (one of which will probably be very bad). This is based on intense field research

calibanboy said:

- Assume your on a table where most players have circa 30 Big Blinds

UTG Flat Calls:

My Questions:
a) What % of time do you think UTG has KK or AA?????

Click to expand...

Certainly not very often. I don't even consider it a possibility until they reraise when it gets back to them or push. It's definately a growing trend for people to do this. If you worry about UTG limps being AA or KK then you are in danger of outthinking yourself. Once I see someone do it I make a note and am more alert to them doing it again but best not to worry til they reraise or call a raise and get active on the flop.

calibanboy said:

b) What do you do with medium PP or A/Picture in mid position? And why??

Click to expand...

With limpers ahead of me with 88-TT I call.
With limpers ahead with JJ I raise.
Unopened I might raise or call 88-TT depending on blinds/image/weather etc.
I fold 88,99 to any decent raise and possibly TT and JJ depending.

AJ unopened I raise, sometimes I call with limpers sometimes raise if they are weak.
AQ unopened I raise, with limpers I raise and following a raise this is sometimes the case;
https://www.cardschat.com/forum/cas...lop-late-mtts-ace-queen-jj-other-traps-81978/

AK is a raise unopened or with limpers and is either a call or a reraise to a raise.

Of course it all depends

Hi Irexes,

I like your article. Its a good thought provoking one that reflects a lot of my own thoughts. Its often the hands that you do not play that win you Tnys )

W.r.t the UTG limper. For me it stinks of Monster of Small PP.

In general I raise enough to discourage the Small PP and fold to any serious raise.

I have seen this more and more. UTG monster flat calls. It would not surprise by if its KK/AA more than 40%. When someone does it the alarm bells go straight off in this situation. (for me). It just means I play cautiously aggressive..........

I do agree its a move many make. Certainly on final table with blinds huge and someone stealing pot with a raise every hand, an UTG limp would look suspicious since its almost certain someone will raise.

But idnt worry TOO much about it in middle to late stages. I think of AA like you so i do observe it and most of the time its a PP or suited connectors

calibanboy said:

My Questions:
a) What % of time do you think UTG has KK or AA?????
b) What do you do with medium PP or A/Picture in mid position? And why??

Click to expand...

a) 10%. A soild player would rarely slowplay high pocket pair.

b) I would raise here. You don't want a lot of players in the pot with medium pocket pair and A, paint.