stealing, struggling, surviving, giving up

Hi,


First off, I want to say thanks to everyone who has replied to my posts in the past - I think you have improved my game no end. I certainly felt I played better last night than I ever have, thanks to taking some of your advice on board.


So here's another question. I was chip leader at my table, having stolen blinds very well if I do say so myself. I had about 2000 in chips, blinds 100, when the table was broken. At my new table, I am lowest in chips. Everyone has at least 3000, leader has 8000 or so.


Chip leader is three seats to my right and is policing the game: he raises first in every hand, and calls any preflop raise apart from huge overbets.


What on earth do you do in this situation? The blinds are about to go up to 200-200, and I have 1700 or so left after posting a couple of times. Will be down to 1300 after the next round. We're 8 handed, 7 at other table, 8 paid.


My plan was: look for a real hand this round; if nothing comes up, got to take a chance with anything half decent the next round. Am I thinking along the right lines here?


And here's a particular hand where I think I need my face slapped a bit for being so weak:


on my "find a real hand" round, I pick up QJs in the cutoff. (Blinds are 200-200 on the button, I have 1700.) Two limpers to me, including the policing chip-leader. I decided to call, look for a hit, and hope to win it on the flop.


Is this a mistake in the first place?


Flop Q44. Checked to me, but the player to my right thought for a very long time before checking. I do not know him at all.


Hmmm. What to do, what to do?


So I checked and folded to an all-in bet from the button of 3000 or so.


I now think that this was ridiculously weak. Maybe the check is okay if I think I am trapping, but obviously I didn't think that. Surely I should at least call here after everyone else has passed?


Thanks as ever for any pointers.


Cheers,


Guy.