5r FT 4handed 2nd 3rd 4th almost equal in chips btn 22?

is open shove ok here to maximize fold equity

or raise fold to maximize ICM so I will not bust out at 4th


888Poker, $4.55 + $0.45 - Hold'em No Limit - 6,000/12,000 (1,500 ante) - 4 players
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mcfc123456 (UTG): 453,054 (38 bb)
beaggro (BU): 209,856 (17 bb)
Rbot23 (SB): 186,185 (16 bb)
joshurtree (BB): 272,905 (23 bb)

Pre-Flop: (24,000) Hero (beaggro) is BTN with 2♥ 2♦
1 fold, beaggro (BU) raises to 208,356 (all-in), 1 fold, joshurtree (BB) calls 196,356

Flop: (428,712) T♠ 6♥ 4♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: (428,712) 9♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: (428,712) 9♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: 428,712

Showdown:
beaggro (BU) shows 2♥ 2♦ (two pair, Nines and Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 18%, Flop: 10%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)

joshurtree (BB) shows A♦ A♠ (two pair, Aces and Nines)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 82%, Flop: 90%, Turn: 95%, River: 100%)

joshurtree (BB) wins 428,712

A mini-raise with intention to fold to a jam is the more "correct" line with these stack sizes. From SB seat you can either open jam or limp. Open jamming 17BB from BTN is not terrible, especially if both players behind fold to much, but when you get action from a bigger pair like here, it is kind of ICM suicide, so its not optimal either.

Jamming is the correct play here. You want to maximize fold equity and this type of low pocket pair is an unexploitable open shove where you will usually win the blinds, and the majority of the time be flipping when called.

Also, folding the 22 would usually be better than min-raising.

The reason is that we're looking for other types of hands to min-raise, in particular ones that play well post-flop and have blockers to our opponents' jamming ranges. Hands like A2o and JTo would be reasonable to raise/fold, particularly against passive players in the blinds. But 22 should almost always be shoved since it's profitable to do so, doesn't play well, and doesn't have blockers. Never fun to get coolered but you played it right!