Hi, first post.
AJ with your stack UTG = fold. You have an M of 8.8 which means you should really be playing super tight. Either that or shove to steal the blinds, which it looks like you would have in this spot. Personally AJ UTG is muck.
The second play seems marginal with a risky but ultimately good call. Id say that before making your bet consider what you are going to do if reraised/shoved. As other posters have said it depends on other information. Was he likely to re-steal?
Last thing I would say is stop looking at the lobby. You will play much better and more natural poker if you ignore it. Play to win and you will get a lot more return than playing to ladder so to speak.
Good luck
Agree, normally this is a fold for me every time utg, but it looked like the nuts as it was the best I had seen for 2 levels, frustration had set in so I had decided i was going for it, in the end was a slight favourite both pre and post flop bit it wasn"t to be.
As for the lobby again agree with you here, I am not really bothered about my position I tend to just use how many big blinds I have to determine the way I am playing, with stars games being so top heavy in payouts not really bothered about min cashing, as long as I am playing games I can afford, a min cash is not what I want, I like to keep an eye on the bubble to try and get a few chips from those who have tightened up, last few mtts I have gone out close to the cash trying to get the double up.
I do use Facebook to show positions late on in mtts,the odd time I get to a ft get a couple of people on the rail for a bit of support, after all,I play for fun and profit not for a living, thanks for the input Gl to you.