How do I play that pesky ATo hand?

[gryphon3005]

More than once I have found myself in the middle stages of an mtt when I am dealt ATo in either the BB or SB. Stack sizes are average, the bubble is still some distance away. But an early pos. has raised 3bb and has been called by a player in a middle seat. I have a hand that is in my opening range but I am out of position facing a 3-way pot. I can't bring myself to try a re-raise but calling here seems like a waste of chips...do I just fold here?

 

[Collin Moshman]

If you're in the big blind, you should at least call because you're getting a great price and odds of close to 4:1 or better depending on the ante.

If you're in the small blind, then I would suggest either folding (most of the time) or occasionally re-reraising. With ATs you could flat but you want to be tight calling raises from the small blind.

For 3-betting this hand, if you have 25bb or less and the initial raiser is opening a lot, you can just shove. With deeper stacks, generally fold, but if the initial raiser is aggro then consider 3-betting here to around 14bb. It will appear strong and also the caller will usually not be strong since he didn't 3-bet himself.

 

[gryphon3005]

Thank you Collin. You covered all the angles...what a great answer.

 

[Criplgamer]

You are holding a marginal hand out of pos. facing a raise and a smooth call from 2 players who will likely put you to a hard decision after the flop . OOP facing a raise and call. You have 2 options. reraise for a squeeze the size of the pot or fold.

Here is a quick fold. Generally far away from the bubble people are loose, but the smooth call without protection betting would of made me question my already marginal Ace with kicker issues.


Calling is the worst of the options as you don't get any new info by calling. Either reraise or fold.

For me it's a fold as you didn't give me any info on your opponents styles. You must start including play styles when asking about hands. Any tells? are you even worried about tells?

Are they tight or loose , weak or strong? Capable of bluffs or honest players? lots more goes into a hand than what you hold.

 

[Criplgamer]

If you're in the big blind, you should at least call because you're getting a great price and odds of close to 4:1 or better depending on the ante.

If you're in the small blind, then I would suggest either folding (most of the time) or occasionally re-reraising. With ATs you could flat but you want to be tight calling raises from the small blind.

For 3-betting this hand, if you have 25bb or less and the initial raiser is opening a lot, you can just shove. With deeper stacks, generally fold, but if the initial raiser is aggro then consider 3-betting here to around 14bb. It will appear strong and also the caller will usually not be strong since he didn't 3-bet himself.

You are holding a marginal hand out of pos. facing a raise and a smooth call from 2 players who will likely put you to a hard decision after the flop . OOP facing a raise and call. You have 2 options. reraise for a squeeze the size of the pot or fold.

Here is a quick fold. Generally far away from the bubble people are loose, but the smooth call without protection betting would of made me question my already marginal Ace with kicker issues.


Calling is the worst of the options as you don't get any new info by calling. Either reraise or fold.

For me it's a fold as you didn't give me any info on your opponents styles. You must start including play styles when asking about hands. Any tells? are you even worried about tells?

Are they tight or loose , weak or strong? Capable of bluffs or honest players? lots more goes into a hand than what you hold.

While I do agree with Colin on the call from the BB, It's a fold in the SB from me or a reraise. Generally the original raiser put himself in a spot to reraise push over a questionable raise from the SB.

This is where an opponents play style is Handy.
Are they TAG or LAG players or are they Nits?

Do they play a lot of pots?
bluff or seem to bluff a lot?
Do they raise pots folded around to them or against tight players often?
Are they picking cards up off the table of I grab a hand full of chips to make them think I'm raising?!

Are they Good or bad players overall?

stack sizes matter as much as the info above.

Is this a rebuy or freezeout?

Any help we could give you as a player is watered down without the full picture.

 

[gryphon3005]

Thanks Criplgamer for your comments. You more than round out Collin's thinking with some insightful thoughts of your own. I didn't mention my opponents tendencies etc because I generally play lower stakes mtts where we see a fair amount of table turnover thru the early stages into the middle zone. I don't get to see most of the players at any one table long enough to have any faith in my 'reads'.

 

[rcpeck]

Everyone else nailed it. Calling is the worst of the decisions, and I'm 3-betting / folding based on table and player reads. You're getting C-bet most of the time out of position here, and it's tough to know where you stand without a really strong flop.

Only time I'm calling is with ATs against players who are often calling, and not betting post-flop, allowing to draw out for cheap and get paid when you hit.