A funny spot with AQ

[Fnord]

Table is playing weak/tight with PokerStar regulars except MP and BB.
MP is kinda fishy, but isn't spewing off his money.
BB figures to be a short-buy fish.

My image is very aggro as I've been raising up a lot of pots and running well. I've also been fortunate enough to find a couple spots to play back at a couple TAggs who've tried to play back at me.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($192.40)
CO ($163.75)
Button ($189)
SB ($375.35)
BB ($61.90)
Fnord ($469.25)

Preflop: Fnord is UTG with Q, A.
Fnord raises to $8, MP raises to $14, 1 fold, Button calls $14, 1 fold, BB calls $12, Fnord calls $6.

Flop: ($57) Q, J, 3 (4 players)
BB checks, Fnord checks...

to be continued...

[Warpe]

...MP bets $30-ish

[gabe]

i would just bet/fold, also i would condier making another raise preflop to pick up dead money

[Anosmic]

This is funny, but only like Adam Sandler funny.

[elipsesjeff]

I like Gabe's line, it looks like you're playing for stacks here by checking. Are you paying off AA and KK here? I would much rather see the ace than the queen.

[Fnord]

I like Gabe's line, it looks like you're playing for stacks here by checking. Are you paying off AA and KK here? I would much rather see the ace than the queen.

I wanted to drop this turkey pretty quick and only called pre-flop because of the sick pot odds.

I'll leave MP's range to your imagination, I didn't have a strong enough feel at the time to figure if he's trying to assert a luke-warm hand or keep me in the pot against QQ+/AK.

I'm putting button on something like 22-JJ/AQ+

I think betting is more dangerous because of the wide range of hands that are going to want to at least see turns and rivers on this board.

[Rondavu]

This kind of spot is a real sore spot in my game. Can someone like Gabe or Lukie elaborate the scenerios in depth for situations like this? I really need to soak in some theory for reraised pots as I move up towards balla town. I haven't had to deal with it in a while. Kthx

[Lukie]

honestly, my first impression was just to push preflop and pick up the dead money. This is obviously heavily dependant on what MP's range is here. In the distant past, this move (min 3-bet) always seemed to be KK/AA, but lately I just see it as more of a fish's isolation move with 2 cards that look decent. In the latter case, I definitely want to push this pre.

If we're very unsure and just call preflop due to pot odds (we're obv not folding), I think checking is the right play here on the flop. We can obviously fold to significant aggression behind us (e.g. bet + raise) but regardless, info = good. I think protecting your stack is more important then protecting your hand in this spot just because it's such a marginal spot, out of position with very little money invested, 4-way pot, possible way behind/little ahead situation, etc.

Show us the action when it gets back to fnord.

[Fnord]

Show us the action when it gets back to fnord.

It was checked through. Turn was a Jack. I'll look up the action when I get home because I can't remember if I was bet into or not.

[Fnord]

honestly, my first impression was just to push preflop and pick up the dead money. This is obviously heavily dependant on what MP's range is here. In the distant past, this move (min 3-bet) always seemed to be KK/AA, but lately I just see it as more of a fish's isolation move with 2 cards that look decent. In the latter case, I definitely want to push this pre.

Funny you should mention that...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($208.10)
UTG ($224.80)
MP ($261.95)
Fnord ($246.70)
Button ($67.90)
SB ($188)

Preflop: Fnord is CO with 9, 9.
2 folds, Fnord raises to $8, Button raises to $14, 2 folds, Fnord raises to $246.7, Button calls $53.90 (All-In).

Flop: ($317.60) 4, A, K (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($317.60) A (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($317.60) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $317.60

Results in white below:
Fnord has 9d 9h (two pair, aces and nines).
Button has Qc Jh (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Fnord wins $317.60.

Anyway, here is the rest of the hand in question...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($192.40)
CO ($163.75)
Button ($189)
SB ($375.35)
BB ($61.90)
Fnord ($469.25)

Preflop: Fnord is UTG with Q, A.
Fnord raises to $8, MP raises to $14, 1 fold, Button calls $14, 1 fold, BB calls $12, Fnord calls $6.

Flop: ($57) Q, J, 3 (4 players)
BB checks, Fnord checks, MP checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($57) J (4 players)
BB checks, Fnord checks, MP bets $12, Button folds, BB calls $12, Fnord calls $12.

River: ($93) 9 (3 players)
BB checks, Fnord bets $40...

[pantherhound]

i like it

[apunisher]

Fnord bets $40....

as a block/value bet because worse hands might call and better ones will raise, and u intend on folding to a raise i assume??

[dsaxton]

As long as MP doesn't require much of a hand to reraise here, I would go all-in with all the dead money in the pot, as others said. Even if he has kings, you can always give him a bad beat.

I think checking the flop is fine as you have a fairly marginal hand on a draw-heavy board that may not be currently good. Checking should get you some free information, and avoids playing a big pot.

I think checking the turn is pretty bad after it gets checked around. Bet and try to pick up the pot with what is probably the best hand.

[nutsinho]

nice hand

[Fnord]

I think checking the flop is fine as you have a fairly marginal hand on a draw-heavy board that may not be currently good. Checking should get you some free information, and avoids playing a big pot.

I think checking the turn is pretty bad after it gets checked around. Bet and try to pick up the pot with what is probably the best hand.

This pretty much sums up my second thoughts on this hand.