3 betting QQ in BB

2/4 online last night - typical lineup (I think)


I get QQ in BB.


Folded to Seat 6 who open/raises, button calls, and I make it 3 bets. Both call. (Dont usually 3 bet QQ, but only 2 callers and wanted to get a better read on raiser. With no cap I put him on AK, AQ or maybe JJ, TT. No idea what button has.)


Flop brings 2s4c5c. With no cap PF I figure I have best hand and must make button pay to draw. Dont figure raiser helped by flop. I bet, raiser folds and button calls.


Turn brings a Td. Button did no raise me on flop, and I figure he still has not made his hand so I bet. He folds, and I win.


Was my play and thinking correct? Thanks very much.


Don

I have come to the conclusion that 3-betting with pocket queens from your big blind in these kinds of situations is normally a bad idea. You have no one to eliminate by 3-betting. About a third of the time an ace or king will flop and you will be sorry you 3-bet. If your opponent has AK he will usually see at least the turn and sometimes go all the way to the river. About 40% of the time an A or K will show up once all five boardcards are out (this number includes the flop, the turn, and the river as if all five boardcards were being laid out at once). I disagree that by 3-betting you will get a "better read" on the raiser. Some guys will not four bet with AA or KK but smooth-call you instead and wait until a later round before pulling the trigger. I don't agree with this thinking but many players still play this way.


Your post-flop play was fine.

I don't claim to be the caliber of player Jim Brier is but I imagine I've played rather more 2-4 online than he has over the last couple years and I would 3 bet or cap this everytime. So often in this situation your hand is going to be dramatically better than either of the other two, I think you're leaving a lot of ev on the table by not making another raise that they're guaranteed to call. Sure if the A comes you're screwed but 3 way you can probably endure a King. Incidently I think the range of hands you put an unknown player on after open-raising in mid-late position is a bit too limited but you're post-flop play seemed fine.

Thanks Jim and Angry....


I have at least gotten to the point that I am thinking....lol...now that is a vast improvement. Thanks to 2+2, I can post the hands here and what I was thinking and get corrected.


When I get conflicting advice or ideas, I can sort of relate them to the games in which I play. I appreciate the responses of authors like Jim and players like the rest of you guys here. If I didnt, I wouldnt be studying HPFAP and reading and studying threads in this forum.


I am not interested in moving up in limits beyond 5/10 (so far played 5/10 only in casinos.) My style of play is generally straight forward and not too tricky. This seems to work best for me at my limits. I am very flexible and open to advice, which is why I am here. I will continue to study, play, and add weapons to my poker arsenal as I learn.


I love this game. Thanks a lot all for your help.


Don

"About a third of the time an ace or king will flop "


That means 2/3 of the time you'll like the flop, that pretty good odds, don't you think? And what about the guy who's trapped in between, isn't he getting crushed EV wise?


I really like reraising with this small a field with the 3rd best HE hand. The original raiser could really be hurtin with a lot of raising hands like AQ/AJ (KQ?) or JJ/TT.

In tougher games (or at least against very aggressive players), it might be important to take control of the hand even from the bb. I'm thinking specifically against pre-flop raisers who can be relentlessly aggressive and tricky with two overcards and any draw. The fact that you probably have the best hand pre-flop doesn't hurt either.