Is This Snap-Call Ever Justified?
I’m looking for some ICM insight and thoughts on a hand I played recently at a final table on **Borgata Poker PA**.
There’s a bit of frustration mixed in, and maybe just a dash of healthy paranoia. 😅
For context, this is a tournament I’ve been playing regularly, and I’ve had good success in it recently:
- **1st place – $6300**
- ** 3 other final tables
So I came into this run feeling confident and focused.
Final table — 8 players left. Payouts:
1st – $3780
2nd – $2980
3rd – $1900
4th – $1500
5th – $1025
6th – $850
7th – $620
8th – $450
I was 6th in chips with 38BB and opened from the cutoff to 2BB with **AA**.
Button, who had ~40BB and barely covered me, 3-bet to 9BB.
Everyone else folded. I shoved. He snap-called with **JJ**.
And yep… the **J came on the river**, and I busted in 8th.
Now here’s what threw me off:
- Two players had very short stacks: 13BB and 18BB.
- ICM pressure is enormous here.
- I’m never jamming light in this spot — probably only **AA/KK**, maybe **AKs** if I’m feeling spicy.
- **JJ** felt like a hand that should never 3-bet to 9bb in that spot and should auto fold to a jam.
> Cue the tiny bit of paranoia:
> *“Was he blessed by the Borgata RNG gods? Psychic? ”* 😄
> (I’m joking.)
From a real strategic point of view:
- Is this just a classic ICM suicide?
- Is there *any* scenario where JJ is a good snap-call here?
- Should I ever consider flatting the 3-bet pre instead of jamming?
Appreciate any thoughts or analysis.
This hand stung a bit, but I’m trying to laugh it off and learn from it. Thanks in advance!
4 Replies
Jacks are a big pair
This is not the subforum for ICM discussions. That being said, I guess it was an ICM error of villain, and you jam obv., but what's the point dwelling on it? You don't know if villain even knows what ICM is. Rake in your Sklansky-ICM bucks and move on. I know it sucks, but what can you do? Gotta loose that money.
He played it terrible from everything I've seen on ICM / final table dynamics. Poor players get married to hands and situations which aren't warranted, that's why they're poor players. You're a tournament player so you chose this life. Sure you've won some, but how much have you lost?
Outside of that, well played. I know it was a tremendously difficult decision.
Yeah, ICM-wise maybe flatting could’ve been better with two shorts behind, but I didn’t love the idea of slow-playing AA vs a big 3-bet when I’m not that deep myself.
Postflop gets messy, and if I get coolered playing it cute, I’d feel worse than just ripping it in now and living with the result.
