[ballen]

I need your thoughts about this.thanks


four of us were killing some time playing a little NLHE freezeout. We each started with T40 with blinds at 1/2. At this point there are three of us and I'm the biggest stack (not by much) on the button. I limp in with K3 of spades. Three of us see a flop of 9s 9d 6s. SB limps, BB pushes all in for about T30 more. I have about T20 more than the BB (about 10 more than the SB).

I don't think either of them has a 9. I've played with the BB enough to know that he could have a 6, a draw, two over cards or a complete bluff. Do I want to fold, call or shove all in? I have a good feeling that by pushing all in I can get the SB to lay down.

I did shove all in and the SB folded. BB turns up 78o for a OESD. Nothing came for either of us and my K plays. SB layed down a 6.

After the hand we got into a lengthy discussion whether I wanted to SB to be in the hand. My opponents were of the opinion that I have to figure that I'm behind and want the SB to call to give me a better pay-off when I hit. My thoughts were that if I call and let the SB call, I'm going to have to make a tough decision on the turn if I don't hit and the SB shoves in. Either way, (push all-in and get my money back or fold on the turn) I still stay alive with T20 but I don't win as much.

While this was just a 4-handed freezeout I think this is an interesting study for a final table in a bigger tournament. I do think that my reads on players had a big influence on my decision.