Help Jason figure this out..

[jasonv12]

I think with less than 10 BBs A 10s is shoveable there. You don't have much time before your stack gets to the point where even if you pick up a painted pair, you will get called.

Hmm interesting, I expected the opposite stance from you. How much narrower do you think my shoves should be since I'm first to act? 7 players behind me is pretty scary..

[Poof]

Hmm interesting, I expected the opposite stance from you. How much narrower do you think my shoves should be since I'm first to act? 7 players behind me is pretty scary..

I am no expert by any means and yes with the 7 players behind you its not the greatest spot, but there are only 8 at the table and the blinds are going to be hitting you faster. I often have waited or folded in that position, but then find myself down to 5bbs and then you are getting called no matter what you are holding. I just think with the 8bbs, and the bubble nearing, if 12bbs is the average, then they are putting their tournament life on the line calling you and alot don't like to do that around the bubble. I would make or break my game there.

I would like to add, I would not call with it in this position, or shove it if it was raised before me.

[rghy2]

I am no expert by any means and yes with the 7 players behind you its not the greatest spot, but there are only 8 at the table and the blinds are going to be hitting you faster. I often have waited or folded in that position, but then find myself down to 5bbs and then you are getting called no matter what you are holding. I just think with the 8bbs, and the bubble nearing, if 12bbs is the average, then they are putting their tournament life on the line calling you and alot don't like to do that around the bubble. I would make or break my game there.

I would like to add, I would not call with it in this position, or shove it if it was raised before me.

This nails most of the key points. The main goal of shoving short stacked is to steal the blinds and antes. Sure double ups are nice, but I would rather make 3 shoves short stacked and have everyone fold me up to an average stack. I'm not trying to shove in places where I know I have the best hand, instead I'm looking for spots where I can get my opponents to fold easily and still leave myself with some outs. This is a good place for that. Shoving negates some of the positional disadvantage, and from early position will represent a strong hand, making your opponents more likely to fold. You're also close to the bubble and your stack will threaten the tournament life of the average stacks. The blinds are about to hit, which will weaken your stack enough that you won't have much fold equity. In addition, the blinds are going up fast, so you don't have much time, but neither do your opponents. They just haven't realized it yet. The average stacks are very close to where everyone should be shoving, and the variance will increase as more players realize their stacks are in a desperate position and make the appropriate all-in moves.

With all of those factors, it's a no brainer shove for me.

The only reason I would consider folding is if someone I'm in a LLB is very short stacked and I'm hoping they get knocked out before I have to make a move. Even then, I would have to put some thought into it, it wouldn't be an easy fold. I treat my points like a BR and my LLBs are large enough to be more significant than a min cash, and that can affect my play. If I've already won 1 or 2 of my LLBs I'll be more likely to take a risk since I will be +EV for the game even if my Merge BR doesn't reflect it.