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Tough spot with QQ
Would you play this any different, and if so why? Local casino $1-2 cash mostly passive players. I’m effective with about $150 (75 BB). Don’t remember my exact position, but I had position on the villain. Maybe 1 or 2 two typical limps to him and he opens to $10. Passive player, limps a lot, very seldom opens. I’ve got to put him on 99+ and AQ+. May seem tight, but I’m confidant it is pretty accurate. I’ve got 2 red queens. I raise to $30. All fold back to him and he calls. Flop is two red aces and a red king (not sure which was which, but one gave me a backdoor flush draw). He checks. I think he is “supposed” to check back 100% of his range here, but not sure he knows that. But my thought is “what is he going to call a bet with that I beat”. I think it is virtually nothing. He’s not folding a K or an A and I think he’d be hard pressed to call with QQ. I think he’s folding everything else, up to and including JJ. However, he is likely to check raise me with and ace. I check. Turn is something like the 7c. He checks. Feels like I should bet, but I’m back to the same question. I don’t see anything I’m getting value from. I suppose I might get called for a small bet with JJ or 10 10. I check. River is another brick. He checks. Same question, I make the same decision and check. I turn over my QQ. He scoffs and turns over QQ.
Should I have tried a small bet on the turn or river?
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3 Replies
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This is a tough spot for QQ. We are beating a lot of hands. But those hands aren’t likely putting in more money.
Preflop V iso raises $10 over a limp or two. Hero (QQ) 3bets to $30. V calls.
I like the 3bet sizing. Things to consider: Does V have a 4betting range? Would it include AK? Once V calls, can we eliminate AA, KK, or AK?
Flop: AAK. Check check
We’re either way ahead or way behind. With QQ, we can check to bluff catch. I don’t see getting 3 streets of value. Checking doesn’t necessarily cap our range as I think AA or AK may check a lot.
Turn. Blank. Check check
Similar situation, but V has now checked a second time. Things to consider: Is V patient enough to check twice with strong hands? Is V more likely to stab if you check a second time or bluffcatch with his smaller pairs?
It’s close here if a small bet or check is better. Small bet opens the door to the dreaded check raise. But it could sometimes get called by worse.
River. Check check.
Here I think a small bet is preferred. This is good spot to bet and fold if V raises. We can get value from JJ, TT, maybe even 99. Per the profile, I can’t imagine V turning JJ (or similar) into a bluff.
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I came to the same conclusion as you. If villain has a 4 bet range it is only AA. There was not a single 4 bet at the table in over 5 hours of play. Alternately, there was a lot of slow playing and passive play with big hands. I think you are right that I could have gotten some thin value on the river. I wondered at the time if I could also get value if he hit the flop or the turn card, but as stated, I don’t think either were in his very tight range. Thanks for the feedback!
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I agree with this take here. I like how the hand played. I do think we can bet for value on the river, but the flop and turn checks are my preferred play. (I’m check calling once FTR). A river bet here is designed to squeak value from 99-JJ. And if your ranging is correct, these are most of what remains in villain’s holdings.
By the way, if you widened this potential range and V can have more Kx in their holdings (KQ/KJ), then I’m likely just check calling this river. But since our preflop read is they basically can’t have a K without a full house, then there is very little in V’s range that beats us that checks back twice.
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