$2-5 live NL pre-flop question

[CMP]

$200 buy-in, $2-5 blind NLHE at Trump casino, Gary, IN.

Him: big stack at the table, maybe 3-4x buyin in front of him. Has built stack from initial buyin (approximately) in the time that I've been there.

Me: about $180 left of 1x buyin. First time playing live NL. Slightly scared money (I only brought 1 buyin). About an hour into my session.

I pick up QQ in EP (UTG+1 or so). I open-raise to 4x BB ($20), folded to villain about 3 seats to my left, who asks "how much do you have left?" He then bets me all-in.

I've never seen him make this move pre-flop in the hour or 90 mins I've been there.

Call or fold?

CMP

[Wayfare]

Sounds like he has AK to me. Don't see how you can play with only one buy in though.

[CMP]

Heat of the moment decision time: I folded, primarily because it was my first trip, I didn't have another buy-in to back me up, and I wanted to play some more.

As I thought about it after the fact: the guy could've read me in one of two ways: as a little weak-tight (true), with a secondary possibility of stereotypical young, overly aggro, online player. I think it was the first, and he was making a play on the player.

After the fact (maybe just to make myself feel better, who knows), I thought he probably made this move with a pair 99-JJ or maybe AK to try to get it heads up as a coinflip or tied w/my presumed AK, or to get me to fold a better hand (which I did). As I said, I hadn't seen this move pre-flop before, as he was content to see the flop and proceed from there in most cases.

Thoughts?

CMP

[ScottTheFish]

QQ is a tough one here. I've played people where this is an instant call, and some it's an instant fold. With one buy in i would fold for sure, but He probably had AK or 88 and smelled scared money.

How did you end up overall?

[Wayfare]

FWIW, 40x BB with no rebuys is not very much poker to me. I think if you can find a 1-2 game with $400, then you will be in a better place to play right.

[CMP]

[ QUOTE ]
How did you end up overall?

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess I played "break even poker," which is not good enough, lol -- left down by the amount of time and tokes I paid.

CMP

[CMP]

Thanks for the comments.

I know that 1) the capped buy-in structure isn't good/real/is different than deep stack big-bet poker, and that 2) playing the capped buy-in with only one buy-in is ridiculous. However, there's not much choice at the local cardrooms (Chicago) for the beginners -- $200 capped, $100-300 spread, or $400 min buy-in is it.

Just wondering if, given the terrible initial set of conditions that I presented (lol), if I made the right move.

CMP

[Wayfare]

I call, try to double up in order to play right, or go home.

/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Zag]

I assume you had been playing very tight, with your scared money, and this was maybe the third preflop raise you had made overall, and only the first one in early position.

If so, that was a good fold. If he is any good at all, he put you on AA-QQ or AKs, and he can't really have faith that you will lay it down. Therefore, he only makes this move with AA, and he is hoping you have KK or QQ and will call.

On the other hand, if you had been raising a fair bet preflop, but were otherwise tight, then he could be playing you for a weak player who will lay most of your raising hands down to a huge overbet. If that is more the case, I would call, but still I wouldn't feel 100% that I am ahead, only enough to be worth a call.

As Matt says, you have to go to an NL game with enough money that you can afford to lose a buy-in or two. Otherwise, you are just looking to be run over.

[bads33d]

I mean why play No Limit with scared money???

I mean, QQ is a big hand, and it seams you didnt have a edge at the table, and def. not the stack, why not take a chance with a coin flip vs. AK, and at best your a big favorite vs JJ and 10 10. I doubt he has KK or AA as he would prob. reraise to 40-60 to isolate you.

I mean, why bring only 1 buy in, you should at least bring some extra money, so you can risk at little to build a stack or rebuy for $100.

Never play with scared money, either play lower limits where your comfortable or not at all.