QQ in big blind

[greg nice]

$1/$2 blinds at a $100 max buy in no limit game at turning stone casino this past weekend. ill try to remember it best i can

7 players at the table
folded and/or called to me at the BB and dealt QQ
i raised to $12 and SB calls

flop 4,4,J
SB checks to me, i bet $30, SB calls

turn rags
SB bets $30, i push for ~$110, SB calls

[jac394]

I don't see too much wrong with this play, depending on your read of SB and your table image. If SB had AA or KK, he probably would have re-raised before the flop, not just called. I just can't give him credit for A4 since he called your pre-flop raise. Since you did not mention any suits, I assume a flush draw is not an issue, and he is not drawing for a strt. With his play, I would probably put him on AJ (think he'd have to lay down AK or AQ to your flop bet) and re-raise all-in right when you did.

What was the outcome? (I hope positive, but since you posted it here, who knows).

[TerraUbrett]

I agree, i don't see much wrong with this play either. Had you been at the table with the SB long enough to get a read? I would guess that he called preflop with AJs or QJs and is betting with that. If he did have the four, the loss is unfortunate, but infrequent.

[greg nice]

SB held J,4 and flopped the boat

i looked it over and my mistake that i saw was that after he called my fairly large bet on the flop, i probably should have slowed down and shown a little caution with a check on the turn.

[TerraUbrett]

I agree, even if he doesn't have the boat, you might have to figure he is trying to draw you in with 444s, by just calling the bet and then check raising.

[jac394]

With the above information, I'm still not sure that you did not make the right play here, even though the outcome was not good. There is no way you would expect someone to to call your big raise (5 times BB) and turn over a 4 with any other card, especially since there were no other callers. After the flop, you have to think you have the best hand, and with a rag on the turn, you have to think he missed and is making a stab at the pot, and really charge him if he still wants to draw at his hand.

I have to assume you did not have a read on this guy as a maniac who would call almost any bet with any two cards. The guy played a couple of rags, and got lucky.

Still think you played the hand right even though the outcome was bad. I'd play it exactly the same way next time, and you'll probably get paid off, probably winning the pot with your push on the turn.

[TerraUbrett]

I agree, you've probably seen the same guy muck 20 other times playing his rags and just didn't remember those hands.

[mikimaus]

At low limits like that (offline) it might make more sense to figure the opponent's hand from his money patterns than from the general logic of what he should have, but a lead bet at least at limit holdem on the turn with AJ or something is rather common, while vs. dangerous preflop raisers a fish is quite likely to just rope with his hands as AJ is a dog to QQ-AA. I think one should just call and see what he does on the river, that might save some money if he bets the pot there, and if not then he is selling his hand or he has AJ.

[sfer]

I'm pretty green to NL but I wonder why push on the turn? Who's calling you that you can beat?

[greg nice]

im hoping to beat AJ,KJ,QJ,JT