QQ out of position

[Todd]

Last week…
1/3 NL. Both players in the hand have roughly the same in chips ~300. suits irrelevant.

Hero w QQ in UTG – I raise to $17
Folds around and the Button calls, blinds fold and we go heads-up

flop was J – 8(?) – 6 rainbow
Hero checks
Button bets $50.
Hero calls

turn 5
Hero checks
Button bets $65
Hero gets concerned but calls

River is a brick
Hero checks and Button bets something like $100 or $125
Feel I’m behind here, I ask if he’ll show and he says “I’ll show if you call”.
I fold.

He shows anyways – he had 56hh for 2pair

Thoughts???

• This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Todd.
• This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Todd.

[Chuck M]

I would’ve cbet that flop.
Maybe 25 into the $34 pot since the board is fairly dry (well there are some straight draws T9, 7x, stuff like that) but I think I would’ve bet 25 (maybe 30). V calls.

Turn, I think I would continue. Getting value from Jx, maybe T9, 8x
This card only completes 97, or 74.
I would’ve bet somewhere around 50ish (pot would be 84).
Now villain would probably raise, I would consider folding. I don’t see him raise with anything but 2pairs, sets, or turned straight.

If he flats, river would be a little tricky, maybe it’s another bet. (Bet/fold) or maybe a check/call depending on his sizing, your reads, etc.

My humble opinion

[Todd]

I misplayed the flop for sure. I was checking just to mix it up a bit. Perhaps a check/raise may have taken it down in hindsight. I like your advice of the c-bet of 25/30 and the way to continue.

[DeeKay]

Hey Todd. Sometimes you’re just screwed. I don’t mind the check so much, but one thing we don’t know is how much value we think we can get. That flop is definitely more favorable to the button’s range. I think if you check raised, hand would have ended. But given the board, I’m not terribly disappointed either as I think I am going to get 3 streets of value. Just didn’t work out well. But I agree with Chuck above… if you would have led out you likely would have been raised. Or give credit to the villain if he put you on a big pair and attempted to max his value. Unfortunate hand. But there were a couple of situations, as discussed where you likely drag the pot or limit loss. However, nice river fold.

[Mark R]

Hi Todd

My thoughts..

While QQ is a premium hand pre-flop, it’s relative value decreases with each street and it has few ways to improve. So we really want to take it down preflop or on the flop.. Once we raised UTG and called flop, (assuming balanced range) it’s likely that we have an overpair or AK, so it’s bad new if we’re bet into twice.
Something like C-bet 80%, check 20% for balance, and if villain bets, raise pot size.
Once we’ve check-called the flop it’s virtually impossible to know where you’re at in the hand. I’d focus on that player and attempt to gauge their strength based on their style etc. Some amount of the time you’ll be ahead of his top pair type hands.

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