First hand of a $3 MTT

[KerouacsDog]

Ok, playing a $3 MTT last night, 267 players, starting chips 2000, blinds at 25/50. MTT pays to top 27.
I'm a TAG player, and just lately have made the money in my last 7 out of 10 small-stake mtts(had some incredible luck along the way).
First hand.
2 limpers before me.
I'm dealt JJ in mid-position.
I raise to 250 chips, my generalised standard play for JJ(between 3xbb to 5xbb).
It folds to BB.
He reraises to 2000, putting us both all-in.
I agonise until the timer nearly runs out, then I fold.
My reasoning? If he's reraising, even if he's a fish, he could still have Ax, Kx,Qx, and take me out. He could also be playing any 2 cards.He could also have AK,AQ,AT, etc, and still hit. QQ,KK,AA dominate me.
Would you have called? It's normally a 2-3 hour tourney before you get to the cash, i'm always in it for the long run.
What would you have called with?
AA,KK,QQ, etc?
Please tick all that you would call with.

 

[KerouacsDog]

first vote to me.
AA and KK.
QQ is a trouble hand sometimes, so not that one.

 

[Xife]

Queens I would call... But I think I would call with jacks as well (Since im assuming you're playing at Costadel poker :joyman::joyman

 

[JimboJim]

I would call a hand that I know is dominating them. You have no idea what kind of player they are so you have no idea what they have. Chances are that they dont have much and your JJ would have probably been a good hand. It is a $3 buy-in so it reduces the chance that its a lotto player. If I could guess I'm guessing that he had either QJs or PP 10's

 

[KerouacsDog]

Queens I would call... But I think I would call with jacks as well (Since im assuming you're playing at Costadel poker :joyman::joyman

nah, victor chandler, the main site in england. some excellent players there, thats my only read if you can call it a read!

 

[Dorkus Malorkus]

What's the tourney structure like? Looks pretty bad from the fact that level 1 is 25/50 with 2k to start.

I think if the structure is really conductive to a crapshoot from the mid-stages onwards you can find a case for calling here and trying to build a stack early considering that many donks ranges are surprisingly large here.

Otherwise I fold. AA-QQ would be my calliung range.

 

[KerouacsDog]

What's the tourney structure like? Looks pretty bad from the fact that level 1 is 25/50 with 2k to start.

I think if the structure is really conductive to a crapshoot from the mid-stages onwards you can find a case for calling here and trying to build a stack early considering that many donks ranges are surprisingly large here.

Otherwise I fold. AA-QQ would be my calliung range.

thats pretty standard on vc. 8 minute blinds.next level is 30/60, then 50/100, etc.
Am i getting a bad deal with vc, with regards to mtts? Thats the only site where I play a major amount of them.Im so used to the blind structure, that I've never really thought about it.
KD

 

[Dorkus Malorkus]

8 minute blinds with 40bb starting stacks? Eww, that is horrible.

Compare it with Stars, FT or UB's structures.

 

[KerouacsDog]

8 minute blinds with 40bb starting stacks? Eww, that is horrible.

Compare it with Stars, FT or UB's structures.

never played at those sites in my life

 

[Irexes]

AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK (not AQ).

At this level of buyin and that harsh strucure he could have anything remotely co-ordinated.

If his range is AA-22, AK-AQ then it's at least a coinflip, but I strongly suspect it's a lot broader and includes KQ and and bunch of Ax.

I'm no crazy man and I like to avoid coinflips (particularly calling) if I can but this situation is probably too good to pass up. I'm unlikely even if highly skilled to double up my initial stack much more than half of the time.

Will I take 55/45 to double up on the first hand of an MTT? Probably.

Will I take 60/40 (which I reckon this is at least) with this structure? Absolutely.

Would call at $33 buy-in (my usual leve). Probably.

If I double up I can really give my self an excellent change of building a decent stack and avoid taking a series of chances to do so which are probably greater than the chance I'm taking here (if that makes sense). Doubling up very early in MTTs dramatically changes the EV of decisions as it gives you a huuuge edge. If you double up and are still around the average then there's a lot less of an advantage to be had.

If he's got QQ-AA or he hits and I'm out then it's no loss and I can start another (if it's a financial decision I'm at the wrong buy-in). First hand or 200th hand it's all the same result if it's out of the money.

Tough to treat with detachment if you call and lose though