The Experiment (tm) - First Hand

[rigoletto]

and according to my dog i should be capping with any two cards.. but i have considered the source and decided against it.

Daryn your posts are allways loaded with insights!

[nykenny]

i simply believe that even in tough games, you should play QJo in Middle-Late position once in a while. I feel in this situation with QJo, it's more of a raise-or-fold decision (though i am not a big fan of this raise-or-fold approach).

And i DO think it's pretty close.

Kenny

[eugeneel]

Not to brag but I think I played my hand ideally.

Justin you could also post my reasoning that I sent you with the last pm.

-Eugene

[Ulysses]

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According to Abdul, you can generally open 3 off-the button with 55, A7s, K9s, T9s, J9s, KJo and QJo.

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and according to my dog i should be capping with any two cards.. but i have considered the source and decided against it.

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I'm glad you've finally realized that more advice from Abdul and less advice from your dog would help your game.

[GuyOnTilt]

I would've played it:

QJo open-raises. 88 3-bets. BB folds, QJo calls.

Flop comes:

QJo checks, 88 bets, QJo folds.

I don't see why people aren't open-raising QJo from MP. This is SOP for me in most games.

GoT

[GuyOnTilt]

88 should 3-bet an open-raiser who could have a hand like QJo, and I don't think it's close. You just have to force the blinds out.

Without a doubt. Cold-calling here is absurd.

Also, in a game full of tough players, there is no way in hell that I'm coming in with QJo from four off the button. I also didn't think my decision was close.

QJo is actually 3 off the Button. For me, this is an easy raise. I frequently come in with a raise holding QJo from MP2 or MP3. I don't see how the fact that it's a tough table would make you want to fold this. At a table full of 2+2'ers, this raise has a better than 50% chance of stealing the blinds, and those on your left will (should, rather) never cold-call, but only be 3-betting or mucking. Since they're good players, they'll be mucking hands like KQo, ATs, and 66. I think raising QJo in this hand is right play. 88 then 3-bets, AJs folds, QJo calls and check-folds the flop.

GoT

[cero_z]

hi mk,
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Also, in a game full of tough players, there is no way in hell that I'm coming in with QJo from four off the button. I also didn't think my decision was close.

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I want to weigh in on this. In a game full of TOUGH players, I will open-raise QJo in this position, and 2-3 spots earlier, as well. Actually, it helps to be in slightly earlier position. Why? Because tough players will fold lots of better hands (AJ, KJ, KQ, AT, 66 and down) most of the time. In a more normal game, I would muck it, since I'll probably face 3 or 4 opponents whether I raise or not, and at least 1 of them will have position on me. The time I would not do it in a tough game is if I'd been catching lots of playable hands over a short period of time, giving me a looser image. Continuing with this strategy, I will open UTG with 66, if I haven't played many hands recently. What do you guys think?

[karlson]

I think that you will run into a real hand when you raise with these hands from EP much more often than you seem to think. Also, people (especially tough players) do pick up on these things.

[RollaJ]

You obviously played it perfectly, I was impressed

[Nottom]

If I had checked the turn what would you have done?