Played at the Tankerville int he 888 Poker League on Tuesday and bubbled for the points. The final hand I was involved in has left me contemplating my decision making. I’ll set the scene.

The tournament was broken down to two remaining tables of eight. I had made some good hands and lost some big hands. I was on a good run presently and had about 18k in chips with the blinds at 1k and 2k. Two new players had come to the table on my right with about 20k each. Chris was under the gun and folded, Brendan folded after him. The first new guy raised it to 4k and the second new guy to my immediate right folded. I look down at two off the button, playing it cautiously as I have not seen this player in a hand as yet, I decide to call. Everyone else folds and we go heads up to the flop.

The flop comes 4 6 K rainbow. My opponent makes a meek continuation bet of 4k, I smooth call with a little trepidation about the King. A Jack on the turn gives me second pair, I am pretty sure I have this guy beat as I don’t think he has a King with the way he bet out on the flop, putting me at about 80% to win the hand. He continues with his betting and pushes all-in to which I call instantly. He shows which now puts me in the drivers seat needing to dodge one of the three remaining Tens with him as an 20:1 underdog.

Needless to say, he hit his three-outer Ten on the river and knocked me out of the tournament.

In hindsight, I should have possibly tested the waters earlier and taken control of the hand pre-flop with either a re-raise to 10 or 12k or pushed it all in pre-flop. But my passive play was influenced by the fact I had never played against this opponent before and he had me out chipped. Taking that into consideration, I think the call was the easy option, but the correct option was at least a re-raise pre-flop.

How would you play it?