Party 20+2: A couple of AQ's not well played

[ChuckNorris]

Seat 7 is the button
Total number of players : 7
Seat 1: funtodo ( $1795 )
Seat 4: randytexas ( $1125 )
Seat 5: MITKS07 ( $900 )
Seat 6: Paulyb2 ( $195 )
Seat 7: claybird99 ( $2600 )
Seat 8: hero ( $925 )
Seat 10: tinmanrob ( $460 )
Level:4, Blinds(50/100)

** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to hero [ Qc Ac ]
funtodo raises [250].
4 fold
hero calls [200].
tinmanrob folds.

** Dealing Flop ** [ Kc, 8s, Qh ]
hero checks.
funtodo bets [300].
hero is all-In.
funtodo calls [375].

** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]

** Dealing River ** [ Jh ]

funtodo shows [ Ks, Ad ] two pairs, kings and jacks.
hero shows [ Qc, Ac ] two pairs, queens and jacks.

---

Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 8: AWOLFEIV ( $710 )
Seat 1: dlshaff3 ( $800 )
Seat 4: LastNLine ( $770 )
Seat 6: hero ( $800 )
Seat 5: wrangler9052 ( $755 )
Seat 2: kojfernic ( $935 )
Seat 7: I01010 ( $770 )
Seat 10: IAMBEAR ( $800 )
Seat 9: HHolm ( $800 )
Seat 3: Sgreenpoker ( $860 )
Level:1, Blinds(10/15)

** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to hero [ As Qd ]
7 fold
LastNLine raises [45].
wrangler9052 calls [35].
hero calls [30].

** Dealing Flop ** [ Td, Qc, Jh ]
wrangler9052 checks.
hero bets [150].
LastNLine raises [300].
wrangler9052 folds.
hero calls [150].

** Dealing Turn ** [ 6c ]
hero checks.
LastNLine bets [250].
hero is all-In.
LastNLine is all-In.

** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
LastNLine shows [ Kd, Qh ] two pairs, queens and jacks.
hero shows [ As, Qd ] two pairs, queens and jacks.

[kurosh]

First hand: Push or fold PF. Depends on your read. Flop is a definite fold.

Second hand: It's still early. I'd bet about 2/3rds of the pot on the flop and if there's much resistance, drop it. The board is too coordinated. There's plenty of time to pick a better spot.

[hurlyburly]

I've come to think of AQ as the best blind-stealing hand out there. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I don't have to show down with it.

AQ is so hard to play well that I've decided just to fold it to a raise if I'm not first in the pot at a full table. TPTK has gotten me into trouble way more often than I've won with it. If you track your stats, I think you'll agree.

That second hand must have been particularly scary. If you find yourself playing AQ like this often, try to tighten up with it. Limp from EP, raise from MP-LP, but use it aggressively when defending the blinds (it's a great hand for defensive reraising PF).

Anyway, that's what I've decided to do with it, and I know it sounds weak-tight, but it's just not as good a hand as it looks.

[RcrdBoy]

In hand #1 I know you are in the SB, but AQ does not play well against an EP raise. Unless I knew UTG to raise light I'd fold and wait for a better spot.

In hand #2 I'd raise this hand to about $200 PF and try to take it down there. Button raise doesn't mean much to me.

I think the flop bet is fine, but I'd be concerned I'm behind when I get raised. Obviously with a draw heavy board you could be or it could be a semi bluff. Either way I think you have to either fold or all in over the top on the flop. I think calling is terrible. You are calling for about 1/4 of what's left of your stack with a hand that is either ahead, but has a decent chance to be out drawn or you are drawing thin.