A hand from the late stages of £50 single chance tourney

[rippyuk]

A hand taken from the late stages of the tourney I played tonight (http://www.punterslounge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33026). My question is would you have shoved, or mucked? Ok, the situation: 10 runners (from 66) left in, top 9 positions pay. Two tables in play, with 5 players on each table. The blinds are at 1000/2000, average stack is around 30k, and I have around 15k, putting me in the shortest two or three stacks, with the lowest on around 9k. My table had three large stacks (40-60k), and one short on similar chips to me. I'm the BB, action folds to large stack in SB position, who raises to 5600. My hole cards are KcQh, not the strongest holding, but short handed it's a biggie, so I think, then call. Flop comes 7 K 3 all diamonds. Small blind fires 8k, effectively forcing me to push all in, or fold. Now I'm thinking, top pair strong kicker, nice - if it wasn't for all those damn diamonds. I had to give my opponent credit for at least a diamond draw, due to his bet. I thought it over for ages & ages, and eventually folded. I sacrificed a big pot & top pair for tournament survival. The other player showed a Jack of diamonds for no pair but flush draw. I was then almost laughed at by the rest of the table (except the guy in the hand), who couldn't understand folding top pair at such a stage in the tourney. My reasoning was I may have him had beat(on flop), but there are two cards to come, and 9 more diamonds in the deck - I've busted out online many a time to a flush landing on the turn or river. I can see the justification for shoving.. I'd already committed a third of my stack and hit one of the cards I was hoping to hit, to fold was almost like giving up on a chance of winning - but ultimately folding meant I was still alive, and able to finish in the money. Did I make the wrong play? Would you have done the same? Would you have shoved? Given the same situation again I don't know what I'd have done, but I'm interested to see how you all would've played it.

[AJ]

Re: A hand from the late stages of £50 single chance tourney Difficult to be sure, I'd have pushed I think But you made the money, and that's important too. You can be too safe at the bubble, but it's better not to be reckless. Depends what's more important, a chance at victory, or certainity of money. £50 isn't a cheap tourney, what did 9th place pay ?? where did you finish ??