3-betting in live MTTs with 20bb

[ThorstenS77]

Yesterday I played the 275$ ANZPT opening event in Sydney and had a situation that made me thinking about whether my play and my game plan in general was correct. Disclaimer: I typically don't play live and online I play only the sunday majors and other big MTTs; my main game is NLH cash game.

Situation: The blinds are 300/600 on a 8 handed table. We have 20BB which is around average (yes, its a crapshot). I played 3 orbits at this table. I openraised 3 times at the beginning, won the blinds the first two times and folded the third time after a 3-bet and a 4-bet. Since then I did not raise and I did not 3-bet at all. Directly to my left are 2 looser, but solid players with big stacks, opening/isolating a lot and definitely capable to call IP or 3bet me w/o the nuts... Another looser player is now in early position; he also seems solid.

I hope to get feedback from you guys about my thought process and how I played the hand.

General strategy: I am typically tight in this phase of the tournament given the table setting. If I get a good hand or a hand with good playability (SC, Pocket), I will openraise, otherwise I don't want to mess given the solid players behind me that may call/3bet a lot. I try to steal some blinds, but often I don't have the chance as the pot is already opened. Hence, I fold a lot, creating a tight image. Consequently, I should use my image to earn some chips...

The hand: The loose EP player raises to 1600. Given what I know up to now, he seems loose but solid and also his raise size indicates that he's not the typical live donk. I am in MP and find T8s. I decide to 3bet to 3600 and everyone up to the openraiser folds.

Analysis: I think its a good spot to semibluff. The loose openraiser has a fairly wide range (I'd assume 22+, 54s+, ATs+,AJo+), I have a reasonable tight image and my 3bet looks pretty strong. Regarding the 3bet size, I wanted to choose a size that a) creates a maximum leverage (if he calls, I will have a PS bet left on the flop, hence I indicate that we play for stacks here) and b) keep a resteal stack if I have to give up. Basically, the small 3bet lays me very good bluff odds; if he folds little more than half of the time, its +EV. If he calls tightly, I will make direct profit by fold equity. If he calls loosely, I will make profit by c-betting A-/K-high flops or shoving with TP/OESD/FD. I wonder which calling range you'd give a solid player in this spot. Furthermore, what do you think about the raise size? Is it sufficient or should I bet larger?

Hand cont'd.: The openraiser called. The flop comes J75ss giving me a gutshot and a backdoor FD. Villain checks and I have a potsize bet left. I shove to continue repping my big hand; if he folds only 50% it'd be directly profitable. If called by e.g. a set or overpair, I still have ~20% equity. What do you think about this play?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[theguy123]

Yea but just because your thinking this far into the situation doesn't mean he is. to you, and to most thinking players, that 3 bet w/ those stacks means playing for it all on any flop. To a loose live rando tourney player, it means call. call a small amount more to see a flop w/ whatever he wants to. although his hand might not be strong even if he raises utg, he still prob likes it, and will take a flop most of the time, and prob not fold any piece, any draw. Also your not deep enough to do this, 20xx bb is normally a re-steal stack. If ur going to 3 bet this guy, or any rando loose guy in a live event w/ these stacks, do it for value vs his range and nothing else.

[clayton]

i like ur general thought process but find the general situation very unneccessary as u only have 20bb. weak competition tend to not have a fold button so id rather just wait and pick my spots to get it in good pre when ur so short, compared to making a tricky preflop line as u did.