Play of 99 in a Pokerstars MTT. Advice appreciated

[PokerEye]

Hi all,

I was playing in an MTT on pokerstars (it is a 500 Frequent player point satellite to a $200 game) and I was dealt 99. I would appreciate any advice and/or criticism on how I played this. Thanks. (My player name is celeryman.)

PokerStars Game #768330042: Tournament #2958318, Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2004/10/13 - 23:20:42 (ET) Table '2958318 5' Seat #5 is the button Seat 1: mdgmdg (5505 in chips)
Seat 2: twitch63 (7780 in chips)
Seat 3: celeryman (3220 in chips)
Seat 5: Lexie555 (3780 in chips)
Seat 6: rickjbr (3730 in chips)
Seat 7: RJGTJV (3350 in chips)
Seat 8: Flabb (11333 in chips)
Seat 9: JonnyCIA (6985 in chips)
rickjbr: posts small blind 75
RJGTJV: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to celeryman [9h 9c]
Flabb: folds
JonnyCIA: folds
mdgmdg: folds
twitch63: folds
celeryman: raises 300 to 450
Lexie555: calls 450
rickjbr: folds
RJGTJV: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qc 2h 6s]
celeryman: checks
Lexie555: bets 150
celeryman: raises 300 to 450
Lexie555: calls 300
*** TURN *** [Qc 2h 6s] [7h]
celeryman: checks
Lexie555: checks
*** RIVER *** [Qc 2h 6s 7h] [Qd]
celeryman: bets 450
Lexie555: calls 450
*** SHOW DOWN ***
celeryman: shows [9h 9c] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
Lexie555: shows [Jd Jc] (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
Lexie555 collected 2925 from pot

[Fnord]

Make it 400 pre-flop. That should be enough to steal the blinds if they want to fold and control the bet escalation.

Being out of position sucks. I probably bet this flop.

[Les_Worm]

Preflop was fine. Go ahead and just bet the flop. I don't like the check/raise in this situation but if you are going to check raise, make it more substantial.
Bet the turn as well. When you check/raise and then check the turn he knows your bluffing. If you get to the river you'll probably have to lay it down. But when its heads up you don't want a showdown.

[PokerEye]

Thanks for your advice, guys.

I just finished 29/200 in that game. Only 9 got tickets into the $200 game.

The 99 hand pretty much crippled me as I lost 40% of my stack on it and ended up on a desperate series of all-ins as the blinds escalated.

If the advice is to bet the flop and turn (and not check raise the flop) what size bets do you recommend for both these actions?

Blinds were 75/150, I was 3220 in chips, raised to 450 preflop, leaving me with 2770.

[HeavyP]

One thing is you check raised only the amount he called to SEE the flop. That makes it not large enough. If you're going to check raise you need to show strength, otherwise what's the point? I'd say make it double what the cost was to see the flop, and push it all in at the turn.

[drmcboy]

I say 450 pre flop if you're raising at all. Given that the blinds aren't that high compared to your stack in your spot I would be tempted to play the 9s just like I'd play 3s - limp in, no set, no bet - unless you're in against a much shorter stack, which here wasn't going to happen.

Having said that I don't think you can beat your self up on this one - you both bascially have the same hand, fearing someone with a Q. I do think if you come back over the top on the flop has would have had to lay down... but he may be one of those high pocket pairs are impossible to beat people.

Point being you made the right read (He did not have the Q) he just happened to have a better pocket pair than you. Anyone who thinks they can tell the difference betweeen a guy betting 88 vs JJ, is, IMHO, lying.

Personally after he's called pre flop and called your raise I'm thinking QQ or AQ and getting out right away. That flop is pretty much perfect for either hand, and with no flush draw out and and no solid str8 draw he wouldn't have much reason to try and bet you out.

[soupie]

I thought u played it just fine. In hindsight, there is always something to be done differently. The weak lead was your clue and you reacted perfectly with the checkraise. I think 450 was plenty to blow him out if he was truly weak, he just happened to have a little something, enough to call, which just happened to a little more than your little something. I like the river bet as well, with the action to that point, i would have had him on Ak or AJ and done the same thing.

regards,

soupie