Playing QQ

[TanO]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, so best introduce myself... I've been playing online poker for a year, mostly SnG's. Have read a few books, played a few sites and love the way this game has endless possibilities.

There is one hand that kills me more often than any other - QQ - I'd like any advice you have on playing these ladies, in particular what are the odds of a A or K flopping ?

In the past I've been inclined to raise and then allin if reraised with this hand but lately after seeing them beat so many times I'm playing QQ more like K10 off to see what hits the flop before going any further, this of course has it's own problems of not raising enough preflop.

Any thoughts, experience and advice ?!

Thanks
TanO

[Staresy]

You should be playing this for a raise. Anywhere between 3-5xBB. (Maybe more if it is very early - first couple of rounds - in a tournament .... 8-10xBB?) You are ideally looking to isolate the number of opponents down to 1 or 2 tops.

Don't start thinking that because u have been burnt before that QQ suddenly decreases in value or get scared to play this hand. Playing this hand like KT and looking to see the flop will only continue to get u in trouble.

I believe that the flop will be A hi or K hi 40% of the time. Therefore, it is not a starting hand u should fall in love with (are there any?!).

Your play from there will be determined by the composition of the flop and, more importantly (imho), the players u are up against. Similarly, it will also depend on how they read u. Are u playing a lot of pots? Are u calling or raising? how do u react to being re-raised?

In the past I've been inclined to raise and then allin if reraised with this hand

This is a strong play but doing this arbitrarily may get u in trouble as well. If u move AI against a tight-aggressive player who has re-raised you are going to get u burnt more often than not because u are a 4:1 underdog if they (maybe inevitably) flip over AA or KK. u are only in a coinflip situation if they show AK.

Hope that helped. There are plenty of people on here who will give u some very sound advice on playing hands of this type. Do u have any HH or rough examples of situations where u have played QQ that u can share for discussion/critique? (it might give a better understanding of what u are, or what u think u are doing wrong)

[Staresy]

have a look at this as well....

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...pic.php?t=6877

[LeFou]

in particular what are the odds of a A or K flopping ?

32.43% if I'm not mistaken.

In the past I've been inclined to raise and then allin if reraised with this hand but lately after seeing them beat so many times I'm playing QQ more like K10 off

from Super/System:
"You're money's in a lot of jeopardy when you get it all-in before the turn with two queens. If you get called, you'll usually be up against AA, KK, or AK... in which case you'll be a big dog or just a small favorite. You can pick a better spot than that to get all your money in.

These must be played for a raise, or all-in for a sorta-steal. Don't call an AI with 'em -- you want to be the one pushing. If you push into kings, bad luck... but you usually won't be pushing into kings. An early, modest raise with 2-3 callers means you're pushing into AK, AQ, or worse, perhaps a smaller pair.

And get into the habit of retreating if A or K appears. You've raised PF and those are the cards that are calling you.

[TanO]

Thanks, i figured it was around 33%.

For examples, I can usually pinpoint when I'm up against a T/A player, for a couple of examples the last time I played QQ I raised 3x BB in middle position, both SB and BB called with an A5s and A8 off respectively, still an ace flopped and I was forced to fold but had lost 1/4 of my stack in a MTT. I guess you'd say I made a correct play, maybe should have raised more to try and force them out.

I guess I've just had a run of bad luck with this hand so I'm more timid with it than I should be.