Top pair but is it good enough

[jimmer]

Since I've started deadicating time to tourneys I've played around 10 $4.40 180 seater sng's. I'm gradually learning that the early stages is about controlled aggression, cheap flops and hiding away from trouble.

In the hand below, it's 1hr into the tourney and 106 players left. (Top 18 get paid). piedraalonso has been fairly aggressive early on, but doubled up twice when his pair hit trips and his AK beat AQ preflop.

I didn't particularly see his preflop raise as strength, so although i would usually fold here I thought I would mix my game up a little and call.

He usually makes continuation bets and I should of raised him on the flop. However, either way, whether I raise the flop or now on the turn, I can see me having to get all my chips in the middle to win the hand.

I know the simple answer is 'fold preflop' and expect that answer from most of you, however that aside - should i be putting my whole tournament on the line with this hand (either on the flop or turn), or should i be waiting for a better spot?

PokerStars Game #44515829568: Tournament #275809356, $4.00+$0.40 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2010/05/23 17:04:46 ET
Table '275809356 1' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: FlotFlot (2415 in chips)
Seat 2: flipkick2000 (2385 in chips)
Seat 3: KARLIK 55 (3685 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: piedraalonso (5315 in chips)
Seat 5: lellone (1845 in chips)
Seat 6: AKvicenteKA (5295 in chips)
Seat 7: Apokulo (1240 in chips)
Seat 8: jbdb3 (3270 in chips)
Seat 9: Tok99 (3335 in chips)
KARLIK 55: posts small blind 25
piedraalonso: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jbdb3
lellone: folds
AKvicenteKA: folds
AKvicenteKA is sitting out
Apokulo: folds
jbdb3: calls 50
Tok99: folds
FlotFlot: folds
flipkick2000: folds
KARLIK 55: folds
piedraalonso: raises 100 to 150
KARLIK 55 has returned
jbdb3: calls 100
*** FLOP ***
piedraalonso: bets 250
jbdb3: calls 250
*** TURN *** [Td 5h 3d]
piedraalonso: bets 550
jbdb3: ?????

[HalfSugar]

Good grief

[jimmer]

Good grief

meaning....

[HalfSugar]

Meaning fold pre-flop but I'm not allowed to say that. Actually, before I move on, limp/calling pre-flop in this spot is not something you should ever do again.

Anyway, as played, given that you "didn't particularly see his preflop raise as strength" (although I fail to see why), shove the turn. You are either crushed or taking it down there but you are in a horrible spot of your own making.

[jimmer]

............as played, given that you "didn't particularly see his preflop raise as strength" (although I fail to see why),

It's because he was regularly raising from position and none of his hands went to showdown. I kinda thought he couldn't keep having good cards with position.

[odlozilik]

He didn't raise from position this hand, he was BB.

[jimmer]

He didn't raise from position this hand, he was BB.

Sorry - let me re-phraise what i mean.

He was playing aggressive poker and when he played a hand was backing down on very few. I saw this as another stab at him taking the pot down without a fight (as he had done quite a few times in the past).

[miaowmiaowchowface]

theres a reason this situation doesnt happen... fold preflop.

[odlozilik]

If you already got there, raise the flop to find out, where you stand.