Party $6 - First hand of tourney, pocket QQ's on the button

[shooter]

First hand of the tourney. Probably should have raised more preflop, but I don't like to get too involved in marginal hands like this, this early. Thoughts?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t20/t40
10 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: t2000
UTG+1: t2000
UTG+2: t2000
MP1: t2000
MP2: t2000
MP3: t2000
CO: t2000
Hero: t2000
SB: t2000
BB: t2000

Pre-flop: (10 players) Hero is Button with Q Q
UTG calls t40, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls t40, MP1 folds, MP2 calls t40, 2 folds, Hero raises to t120, 2 folds, UTG calls t80, UTG+2 calls t80, MP2 calls t80.

Flop: J A K (t540, 4 players)
UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: A (t540, 4 players)
UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 checks, Hero checks.

River: 5 (t540, 4 players)
UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 checks, Hero checks.

With three others seeing that flop, I figure someone had to hit an A or K. On the turn, I could see someone slow playing a made set. On the river, I assume an A would bet at the turn or river so that is unlikely, but a K is still very possible, and would most likely call a value bet on the river. After the turn and river, I was really looking to see a cheap showdown. Did I play this too weak?

[mcatdog]

Raise to 200 preflop. QQ is not a marginal hand.

Postflop I play the same.

[outphase]

Hands that beat QQ preflop: AA, KK... Unless your margins are drawn [x|xxxxxxxx] then i don't see where you are confused. If you're scared, bet the flop and let someone give you a reason to be scared.

[bluey]

Raise more preflop and I would bet the flop.

[tcpj4]

3x preflop is pretty weak at the early levels. QQ is not a margainal hand, but you don't want to play a huge multiway pot with it. 160 or 200 seems like a better raise, 200 pref with the 3 limpers infront of you. Postflop played good.

[Sprayed]

Raise a little more pre-flop and c-bet flop. QQ is a HU hand. At times at any stage of the tourney I will push when last to act with Ak, and JJ+ after multiple limpers have entered. You will either get everyone to fold and take their chips or you will get a caller with a weak hand which is what you want.

[vqc]

Raise more preflop and I would bet the flop.

Why would u bet the flop?

[drmcboy]

LIMPING would be better than that raise. Not that I'm saying limp, I'm just trying to point out how bad your play was. It was WORSE than limping QQ behind two limpers.

Get a better BR or drop stakes or something. If you aren't happy to be playing QQ in a big pot early in a 6 dollar tourney, you shouldn't be playing. This is a great spot. Big raise - every one folds - hooray! Big raise - 1-2 fish call with AT - hooray! 5x it here at least. I also like the idea of flat pushing here, I think you'll be amazed what you get called by.

Side notes - as played I wouldn't call a bet on the river either. With all the checks something like KQ could lead here.

And Cbetting this flop as played would be terrible.

[Sprayed]

If you raised more pre-flop and got one caller, why not c-bet flop? I know it looks dangerous, but you gotta represent.

[Renton]

In cheap tourneys like this (5/1 and under) when I get a monster like AA, QQ, KK in the first hand, I will occasionally go all in right of the bat. People at low buyins generally don't give much respect to an all-in in the first hand and think you're just a lunatic.

About 30-40% of the time someone calls with some crap like AJo and you double up early.

[drmcboy]

With one caller I'm more likely to lead flop. Still, it's iffy. EP limp then called a raise. Either it's a PP, they hate the flop and fold, or it's like AT/AJ and they call/raise and you have to fold, whereas maybe you could have skanked a T out with a check. Or they have a draw, which probably means they call the flop, then you must check turn so they see a free river, and even if they miss if they decide to bluff you won't be able to call.

[bluey]

Raise more preflop and I would bet the flop.

Why would u bet the flop?

As played I wouldnt, but after a significant raise preflop and its checked to me I'd do the standard cbet. I can rep AK or even AA KK, and if I get called then I know I'm done.