$1-$3 live game. 7 players, so we're somewhat short handed. It also happens to be a fairly tight game.

On the button with QQ. No limpers.

Do you limp to hide strength but take a chance at getting cracked or do you raise and hope for action? Are you satisfied taking the $4 when both blinds fold to you?

I choose to raise to $16 here. The SB calls.

Flop comes Qc 5d 2h. The SB checks dark to you.

What do you do? Do you check your flopped monster, put a small "call me" bet at it, or make a pot sized bet?

I elect to make a "call me" bet of $15 into this pot of $35. The player calls.

Turn comes Ah. SB instantly leads for $20 into the pot of $65.

This is where I made my biggest mistake of this pot, so I'm curious to get some feedback from some other players.

What do you do? Do you smooth call to disguise your hand, make a minny-raise, or put the hammer down?

Where do you put this villian? How much is he willing to call? Does he have a made hand? Is he betting with a draw? How do you maximize this very strong hand without losing your fish?

Raise and raise big, 70$ seems reasonable, you need to get value from the A and two pair and lower sets.

Limping pre is horrible. When they fold you win.

Originally Posted by 22Fish

Raise and raise big, 70$ seems reasonable, you need to get value from the A and two pair and lower sets.

Limping pre is horrible. When they fold you win.

OK. How about on the flop? Is the $15 too small? Would you bet at all?

Originally Posted by KRE8R

I raise it preflop for sure.

On the flop I think $15 is fine since there isnt much that can come on the turn that you are scared of.

Turn you definitely have to raise and look to get allin.

Originally Posted by Av8tor009

raise preflop is the only correct play

on the flop i love the small c-bet... usually when a PF raiser suddenly turns weak it makes people wonder why

nice healthy raise on the turn is the right play.. this is where you get the value for the hand... no matter what happens ur committing ur whole stack to this hand... if he turns over the cooler... it's just not your day, but you need to get as much value out of this as u can

Ditto

The play I decided to make was a min raise.

I went to 40 and he snapped called.

River brings a the 3h. Board is now Qc 5d 2h Ah 3h

Villian checks to me and I value bet $50. I'm feeling pretty strongly that he doesn't have hearts, but for some dumb reason the 3h scares me with the weird straight possibility. I can't put him on any hand that has a 4 in it, so i put a value bet that I feel any Ace will call.

He frustrate calls and turns over 55. He had about another 150 that I could have gotten with a real re-raise on the turn. Once that scary straight/flush card hits the river it slows him down and he can only check-call.

I've been mad at myself for how poorly I played that ever since. I should have thought more strongly about the possibility that he called on the flop with either a set(thinking he was trapping) or a big ace.

There's always something to learn from the hands we play. Always.

i think a min raise on the turn is good because if he did have two hearts it charges him correctly for his draw and you lose less money when he goes all in.