when to call an all-in?

if someone was raising you all-in preflop every few hands or so, with what range of hands would you call, and why?


i was playing real tight in a game yesterday, and the player before was almost always raising me all-in. after a few folds i realized he was milking my game; that is, he was robbing me because i play tight.
i folded with Ac-2c, A-7o, and 10-Jo. Eventually i called him with my AA and he went bust.

i ask this question because AA was a blessing. what range of hands should i be calling his all-ins?

blikbleek said:

if someone was raising you all-in preflop every few hands or so, with what range of hands would you call, and why?


i was playing real tight in a game yesterday, and the player before was almost always raising me all-in. after a few folds i realized he was milking my game; that is, he was robbing me because i play tight.
i folded with Ac-2c, A-7o, and 10-Jo. Eventually i called him with my AA and he went bust.

i ask this question because AA was a blessing. what range of hands should i be calling his all-ins?

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well you did absolutely the right thing ...even though you realized that not everytime he went all-in was with a premium hand ... you still couldnt say for sure that your A7o had him beat and why risk your tourney life .. how sick would you have been if he flipped over 88 or A9?

you shouldnt think, OMG, this guy is moving in with less than premium hands i have to call him and risk my tourney life ... think of it like ... man, i hope i pick up a premium hand before somebody else busts this maniac ... or maybe this maniac will get lucky and felt somebody that actually has skills in the tourney

just look at it as a potential opportunity ...

so what cards then, i've been in that situation ... i would avoid calling there with small pairs ... b/c his J4 is a race vs. your 33 ... i'd probably call him with 88 or better & A10 or better, but again if you feel like you don't need to take the risk b/c you have been successful in the tourney format that you are playing, then bump that to 10s or better, AJ or better

What kinda game are we talking about? Cash game, tourney, freeroll? Sounds like a freeroll.

this was actually a DoN. i hate them but recently ive been doing good at low levels

I'd suggest that you need to study DoNs and learn equilibrium push/fold spots given bubble factors.

In general, you call an all-in when you have the equity and pot odds to call vs. opponents' estimated range, but in tournaments, especially sit-n-goes and more specifically, DoNs, ICM is the biggest factor.

the longer you keep folding the more chance you get him dominated when you call, but you cant lose too many blinds so it cripples you. you should get a feel for the right moment really dont think J10 is ever right

It's kind of a feel thing for me. Stack sizes and bubble come into that decision a lot. If either of us is short all PP, any 2 broadway, or A8+ should be enough. Albeit calling an allin with 33 type hands is always a sweat or domination.

In DoN sitngoes, chipstack management is the key. 6 player, 10 player no mater. Obviously you had him covered as you took him out later and depending where you are in relation to the other players chipstack wise, fold was probably the best move. He was probably stealing your blinds knowing that you could only call with a premium hand. In SB vs BB the SB can push ATC in hopes you won't call with marginal hands. In double up, I've had less than 3 BB and on the bubble at 6 player game and had the big stacks go at each other and 1 lose to put me in the money. But, you have to get a read on the other players game.

The problem with playing it safe in DONs is that if you never get a hand, your DON life depends usually or one showdown. If you get unlucky, that's it. Also, if the other short stacks get lucky, you get screwed too.

In my last 4 DONs, I have busted in 6th 3x and 7th the other time. I don't believe I made one mistake except playing too conservatively. Ended up busted with AQ vs. T4 all in pre (fishy bigstacker calls 5 BB shove), or JJ vs. A7. That kind of stuff.

I don't play them anymore unless my cash game luck is in the dumper.