Queens in early game [$11 9man]

[Jack Sawyer]

This type of spot always pains me. I have the ladies, but there is a lot of aggression going on before me. What is the best COA here? For instance, if I raise to 500, I won't fold to villain going over the top.
Its one of the first hands so assume no reads.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 11 Tournament, 10/20 Blinds (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Replayer from Poker Hands Replayer



CO (t1500)
Button (t1490)
SB (t1480)
Avii (BB) (t1530)
UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)

Avii 's M: 51.00

Preflop: Avii is BB with ,
5 folds, CO bets t60, Button raises to t140, 1 fold, Hero (t0) ?

[drmcboy]

I'd prob take a flop, but I don't think raise/call is bad either. besides, huge hourly rate win to go out the first hand.

[taipan168]

I think this spot is quite read depedent on the raiser and 3-better - if they are tight (particularly the 3-better) I call and see a flop (with the intention of ultimately getting all my chips in with no A/K on the flop), if they are LAGGtards I sometimes shove over here with the full expectation that one or more of them will call with hands that we beat.

Personally I like the 3-bet less than all-in option the least here as we are basically committed to the hand regardless of what comes on the flop.

[SMRZ]

I would raise to see where you are at. Seems like it could be someone playing around with the re-steal.


I would take it up to ~375, and fold if one of them came over the top.

Shove post flop with no A or K the board.

If an A or K shows....?????????????

[drmcboy]

yeah more I look I like open shove better than small 3 bet, you'll look like a double up or move on guy. small 3 bet almost over reps your hand, they may just flat worse PPs and give up without a set. If they'll call a small 3 bet with 99 then felt 642 board i doubt they will fold to open shove.

[taipan168]

I would raise to see where you are at. Seems like it could be someone playing around with the re-steal.

Betting/raising/re-raising "to see where you're at" is not a good reason to raise. If you re-raise and somebody shoves over, where are you at exactly? Does opp have you crushed with AA or KK, are you flipping (with dead chips in the pot) against AK or are you well ahead of something like AQ or TT-JJ?

I would take it up to ~375, and fold if one of them came over the top.

I think that 3-betting/folding is really bad. You spew off a quarter of your stack and don't even get to see a flop?

Call or shove (depending on reads) >>>>> 3-bet and fold

Shove post flop with no A or K the board.

As played, I agree with this, but one problem with 3-betting less than all-in is that you could get bluffed off the best hand if there is an A or K on board remembering that you are going to be first to act here (ie. if you check and opp stabs at the pot, opp might be bluffing).

[danoxford]

I would shove over here, I think the times villain 2 has 99-JJ or A10/J/Q here make it value even if he calls. Raising is worst option for me as you'll be no better off knowing whether to fold to a shove and you've missed chances for taking the pot PF anyway.
Shove > Call > Fold > Raise

[drmcboy]

PS Axx flops are much worse than Kxx flops and if you're ever folding on a K high flop (remember your SPR will be ~<1) then just shove pre. What Kx hands are you guys worried about that are calling 4 bets pre? Not only can you still get called by worse on Kxx, TT is probably going to shove the K54 flop after you check and you'll have managed to build a big pot and then fold getting a 2/1 price with opp drawing almost dead. Folding pre is much better.

[Jack Sawyer]

Tnx for the replies guys.