$12 turbo - QQ line check, pretty confused

[mukaka]

Std raise pre-flop.. on the flop I didn't wanna rep the Ace since he would only call me with an Ace so I checked to induce a bluff if he didn't have the Ace.. On the Turn I thought he might check behind without an Ace and if he has one by betting here I might make him fold due to second J but I know that's not likely at this level.. Anyways do I suck?

Full Tilt Poker, $11 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 50/100 Blinds, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BTN: 1,280
SB: 1,020
BB: 1,325
UTG: 1,115
UTG+1: 1,350
MP1: 3,300
Hero (MP2): 1,250
CO: 2,860

Pre-Flop: (150) Q Q dealt to Hero (MP2)
3 folds, Hero raises to 250, CO folds, BTN calls 250, 2 folds

Flop: (650) A J 3 (2 Players)
Hero checks, BTN bets 300, Hero calls 300

Turn: (1,250) J (2 Players)
Hero bets 700 and is All-In

[FlyingSaucy]

This is a tough spot, all too familiar yet never have a great answer for.

I think the flop is where you have to make your decision because going to the turn rarely favors your range vs his. Imo it's either b/f the flop or c/r. Your range is ahead of his on the flop. I'd b/f.

If your line is b/f and the button calls, going to the turn, you pretty much shut down into c/f mode on most turns.

If your line is c/r and button checks behind, I'd open AI the J turn. It's borderline imo but probably the best play given your flop check raise strat gone bad.

[mukaka]

if your line is b/f, how much do you bet? if you bet 300 as this one he would call with a lot of hands even some gutshot draws.. if you bet bigger you are commited and how can you c/f after that? wouldn't you be commited?

[slownpainful]

Why isn't C/F an option here on the flop? I'd be real worried about the ace on the board after he called a raise PF. I'd rather not spew chips in this situation and live to see some more cards...

[TwoKicker]

Push Pre Flop

[mukaka]

it is an option.. it's actually my standard play but when I check he bets a lot of hands.. And due to my stack size I want to gamble a bit..

[GatorJH]

yea, I think if you are going to call a HPSB on the flop then you are better off putting it in the middle first. That may win you the pot right there or, if not, it may allow you to see a free card on the turn.

[taipan168]

Preflop is a bit of a tough spot - I would definitely standard raise KK and shove JJ but QQ is sort of right in the middle. I think I lean towards standard raising QQ because I'm happy to get it in on the flop with a K overcard.

As played, I probably play it as you did on the flop. I worry about c-betting here because it may be one of those bets that only gets called by hands you beat and doesn't fold out anything that you don't (except for KK and that has to be very rare). In fact, I would rather c-bet a hand like 99 on this flop rather than QQ.

Once you get called, I would shut down on the turn, ie. check and fold to any reasonably sized bet. Whilst it sucks to burn so much of your stack, a 700 stack at 50/100 blinds is still not totally dead, particularly since FT's next level is 60/120 rather than 75/150 as at PS.

[mukaka]

yea, I think if you are going to call a HPSB on the flop then you are better off putting it in the middle first. That may win you the pot right there or, if not, it may allow you to see a free card on the turn.

but you don't get any value from the hands you beat..

what I really did on this hand was, since my stack is not so healthy (If I had a healty stack and good equity I would c/f on the flop) I didn't put him on an Ace and played accordingly.. I basically decided to gamble.. I checked the flop to induce a bluff, then bet the turn so he can't check behind and get a free card, maybe a K to beat me.. Is this a wrong approach?

[FlyingSaucy]

if your line is b/f, how much do you bet? if you bet 300 as this one he would call with a lot of hands even some gutshot draws.. if you bet bigger you are commited and how can you c/f after that? wouldn't you be commited?

Good points. c/f is an option if you are concerned about getting committed. It's a question of whether you think when he calls your bet that it means that he almost certainly has an ace.

BTW I've been trying to not discuss preflop because when we run into problems like this the answer usually is "push pre" or "fold pre" so just wanted to focus discussion on how to handle yourself given how it was played preflop.