$20+2: How to play KQ from early?

[DonHansen]

KQ is in my opinion one of the hardest hands to play from early. KQ and I never seem to make real friends, and if I'm well stacked I sometimes feel like throwing the hand away (it has happened...) from UTG if I face solid players and a full table.

The following was the very first hand in a 10-handed $30+3 STT at Ladbrokes tonight. So the blinds are puny 10/20 when I - as the observant reader will know - pick up:

K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

I try to vary my play with this hand, from raising 5 x BB to limping. Since it's the very first hand I have absolutely no read on the field and choose to limp. Everyone execpt from a middle player who also limps folds to the SB who raises 140, 7 X BB. I make a questionable call, so does the middle player. The flop is:

K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

SB checks. I set out to trap and make a probe bet of 200 into the 510 pot. The middle player raises to 400. SB folds, I reraise to 800, the middle player goes all-in with 960 and I call with my last 560.

He flips over K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] - turn and river is 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] - my top two pair hold up to win the pot.

I guess my postflop-play was allright here. But I would love to get some input on how to play KQ preflop from early.

Thanx.


D.