Re: $22 Q,Q early on
I actually lean towards pushing. If you check behind on the flop, you will not be able to get away from your hand later given that the pot is bigger than you stack & that you will have shown weakness. JJ/TT will likely call you. 88-66 may call also, but you are likely to lose them if another over comes on the turn. A hand like AQ will likely fold but that's fine, the pot is huge. You'd much rather take it down than give Ax a free card.
It's also ok if a lower pair folds. The pot is enormous. If he's tight-passive and will not put money in with an underpair unless he improves, all you're doing is giving him a free card to beat you. If he will bet an underpair, you're either still losing your whole stack to AK, or often folding the best hand in a huge pot.
So I guess the only time I like checking is when you plan to fold to a later bet & *know* that he is tight-passive.
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