AK-Late stages of MTT SNG

I have been getting absolutely killed lately when it comes to the late stages of 90 and 180 person SNG's. I am very consistent making it into the money, but can never manage to get to the big payouts. A little advice on how to play in this stage would be great. Also, I'm going to outline a few hands I played with AK-any suggestions for improvement would be greatly appreciated!

Final table, 8 left, Avg. chip stack of 13,000, blinds 500-1000
I was sitting at about 13,500 chips and was dealt AKo as Dealer
Everyone else folds and I raise to 3000.
SB folds, and BB raised me to 6000.
I push all in, get called by 66 and lose...
Any suggestions for playing this differently?

GoBison1 said:

I have been getting absolutely killed lately when it comes to the late stages of 90 and 180 person SNG's. I am very consistent making it into the money, but can never manage to get to the big payouts. A little advice on how to play in this stage would be great. Also, I'm going to outline a few hands I played with AK-any suggestions for improvement would be greatly appreciated!

Final table, 8 left, Avg. chip stack of 13,000, blinds 500-1000
I was sitting at about 13,500 chips and was dealt AKo as Dealer
Everyone else folds and I raise to 3000.
SB folds, and BB raised me to 6000.
I push all in, get called by 66 and lose...
Any suggestions for playing this differently?

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Nope. I would have done the same thing.

It would be a mistake to not get your money in preflop with AK if you are less than 20bb deep, unless it is a satellite.

Once he re-raised I would of called just to see his pair cuz that's what I would of figured he had since he re-raised, I may of also folded AK depending on how things were going in my game. Big slick loses more then you think so they shouldn't always be over played imo. Good luck.

LaMinaccia said:

Once he re-raised I would of called just to see his pair cuz that's what I would of figured he had since he re-raised, I may of also folded AK depending on how things were going in my game. Big slick loses more then you think so they shouldn't always be over played imo. Good luck.

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/*facepalm. Folding is absolutely horrible. You are virtually never dominated and at worst only a 55% dog and a lot of times you will have 70% equity. Calling again is horrible because we now give villain the opportunity to bluff us out on the flop and also what sense does it make in sticking in 50% of our stack just to fold if we miss. That is bad bad play.

Shove is by far the best option.

marginal said:

/*facepalm. Folding is absolutely horrible. You are virtually never dominated and at worst only a 55% dog and a lot of times you will have 70% equity. Calling again is horrible because we now give villain the opportunity to bluff us out on the flop and also what sense does it make in sticking in 50% of our stack just to fold if we miss. That is bad bad play.

Shove is by far the best option.

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+1.

Don't get me wrong, there certainly is spots in MTT play where folding AK preflop is a very valid strat, but this is not one of them.

I must agree with Tenbob and marginal. Against a pair, you are almost 50% to win (save AA-KK), and get five cards for your money. With the small amount of blinds you have left, I would have considered shoving all in and just tried to pick up the blinds. If you get called by the guy with his 66, then so be it, this is acceptable. If a round of blinds and antes are folded to you, then you get another orbit of the button to make a move.

I'm sure this position is debatable, however I'd rather not get called here, whiff on the flop, and have to fold, sitting at less than 15 BBs. I would much rather get all my money in preflop, and if I take down blinds and antes, consider it a success. You are only going to get called by hands you have dominated, hands you are even money to beat, or AA-KK. And the chances of AA-KK when you know where one of the A's and one of the K's are is low enough, and worth the risk.

I would have done the same thing, but the better player would see a flop before shoving with A Ko. The big thing that I have to put in mind and everyone else should remind themselves and that is: not to fall in love with A K suitted or off suit. If you want to become a better player you have to learn just to call or fold A K. Best of luck in future event you participate in and learn how just to call, fold and out play your opponent.

Who the hell is going to put in 1/2 his stack to see a flop and leave themselves with 5 or 6 blinds left when he doesn't hit? (you're borderline stack committed just by the 3x raise)
If you're going to call 3k more, it's AI without a second thought

I like to just push in that spot sometimes.(I know it's a tad on the agro side) Like everyone else said, if you get called, you're not in bad shape against anything but AA and KK (highly unlikely) and alot of the time, at the lower limits, you'll get called by A-rag, and are big fav to double up.