Was I too wimpy?

This hand was from a 1-2 PLH game about a year ago and still bothers me. 5 handed - best player calls UTG, next two players are just ok and friendly, and 1 calls while the other folds. SB is a 20 something who plays most hands but doesn't try to overrun the table, and he calls. I'm the BB and have QQ; I raised the now $8 pot to $16. UTG and SB call.


With $32 in the pot three of us see a flop of Kxx with both small cards being diamonds. Ugh! I'm likely to be in the lead and can't afford to give a free card; so, after SB checks, I bet the pot. UTG (with a slight but clearly controlled hesitation) calls the $32 and raises me the max ($96). SB folds. I started the hand with about $160, and UTG looked to have about $200. If I call, I'm not all in but don't have many bullets left.


I decided this player did NOT have a stone bluff. He might have a nut flush draw. He might have a low pair and made a set. At the time I was also worried about AK because UTG while a good player didn't often raise pre-flop. The only raises pre-flop I'd seen were mine and SB's. Anyway, I knew this guy had something; if it was a flush draw, he'd still beat me if he hit his ace. If he had AK of diamonds, he's got the best hand AND the best draw.


I chose to fold and save my bullets. He showed me AQ of diamonds; I was a slight favorite and should have called. How bad was my play?


Thanx - Fat-Charlie

No. I like your pot-sized bet, and I like the fold to the re-raise. To me, it sounds like an easy lay-down. I would have thought he had either 2 pair, AK or KQ.

Unless he had a dead perfect read on you, his re-raise was madness.


-Marlow

I would have checked the flop..... then thrown it away if someone showed strength. this may be wimpier than you described....but i d give more respect to the king...if you d have had 2 aces...instead of the qq's id have gone all in with it. for what my opinion is worth to ya...good luck!

What amazes me is that you've been stewing about this for a year. Man, I would have made a bigger mistake than that within a *week*, and been stewing about *that* one. Or maybe one bigger than them both put together.


Most of the time, your QQ is no good there. You may well get shown a flush draw *with* the Kd. In which case you're drawing close to dead.


You fold, next hand.


Regards, Lee

I haven't exactly been stewing for a year. I don't get to play poker very often (I live in NC), and on my last trip in November I didn't find a low limit PLH game still acive and settled for 4-8.


The GOOD news is I'm flying to Vegas tomorrow!


Fat-Charlie

No, I think his raise was terrific. If I call, he's getting 2-1 on his money and is only something like a 9-8 dog. He doesn't fear a re-raise or getting bet off the pot on the turn because I'm low on ammo after the call. Of course when I fold, he takes the pot. I REALLY LIKE his play; I was concerned about mine.


Fat-Charlie