playing qq soft.

I have seen this so much lately that I'm starting to wonder if there's anything to it.

I'm not asking for advice on my hands here. So hint-hint: they both have QQ.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($53.95)
CO ($27.60)
Button ($11.90)
Hero ($29.30)
BB ($30.05)
UTG ($28.15)
UTG+1 ($24.65)
MP1 ($43.75)

Preflop: Hero is SB with T, T.
2 folds, MP1 raises to $1, 1 fold, CO calls $1, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($3.25) 6, 2, 7 (3 players)
Hero bets $2.5, MP1 folds, CO calls $2.50.

Turn: ($8.25) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $4, CO calls $4.

River: ($16.25) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $3, Hero calls $3.

Final Pot: $22.25


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG+1 ($28.95)
MP1 ($24.90)
Hero ($25)
MP3 ($43.95)
CO ($25)
Button ($25.85)
SB ($4.75)
BB ($28.05)
UTG ($8.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
2 folds, MP1 raises to $1, Hero calls $1, 5 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) , , (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.75, MP1 calls $1.75.

Turn: ($5.85) (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $3.5, MP1 calls $3.50.

River: ($12.85) (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $12.85


In the first hand, there's a chance that the player put me on a mid pp and played nearly perfect. The only reason I don't think he's just scared is that he managed a v-bet on the river. In the second hand, I can't even imagine not raising there with QQ.

The thing is, I've seen this sooo many times at 25nl that I'm wondering if there's some possibility that against certain players it's reasonable to play them this slow.

Loose passives habitually play JJ-QQ slow both preflop, and as overpairs like this in my experience.

Been burned playing TT-JJ as an overpair hard vs em' enough times

They're probably part of the legions of people who "hate" JJ/QQ cause an overcard 'always' comes, and if it doesn't, they've got some other doom & gloom story to justify playing em' like a weakass.

I have a hard time imagining that you're NOT losing value by playing em' like this...

I don't like how they played either hand, and you played them both just fine.

Hand #1, they should have raised flop or turn, take your pick. However, they had someone consistently betting into them with a very likely inferior hand. This actually isn't too bad of a line for them to take. The $3 river bet is terrible, though. He should be betting $9, and you probably will have to pay him off.

Hand #2, he has to lead out on that flop. With how he played it, I love your line. He looks like an ace (AJ+) that is praying to hit his hand, but if he has you beat (e.g. with JJ+ or A9), you have tons of outs. If he's beat, you're charging him to draw to his 6 outs. If you're beat, you still have 8 or 10 outs to win (depending on whether a 7 is good), which is a great semi-bluffing spot.

Oh, and they didn't play QQ all that soft given that they raised pre-flop like they were supposed to. Flat callers will frequently be set-hunting, so they are likely happy with thos flops but not thrilled.

This is similar to the combatting the nits post I made a few days ago. These guys suck at vbetting don't do it for them.