I am currently watching a lot of high stakes STTs to gauge how good/bad the players are there.

I just witnessed this hand and thought it was played terribly by Player1, thing is I'd like to check with you lot incase i'm missing some sort of "advanced" strategy as it was at a $215 room.

Blinds are 30/60 (very early, still have all 10 players)

Player1 is MP1 and raises to $200, all folds except Player2 (BB) who calls

Flop Q63 rainbow. Player2 takes ages and then Checks, Player1 raises to $400, Player2 re-raises to $800, Player1 pushes the rest of his stack in (around $400 more) which Player2 instantly calls.

Player1 shows 99
Player2 shows QK and ends up knocking Player1 out.


This just seems an absolutely awful play from Player1, for a start I'm limping with those 9s and hoping for trips as there is a full table to act and he is in mid position. Right?

If I make that raise and then get an overcard and someone check raises me I think I let it go, unless I have a good read on them! Right?

Please let me know if my understanding of this hand is wrong. Just seems ridiculous play from someone, especially at a $200 table