I have almost no clue how to play KQ. It drives me nuts as it almost seems like everytime I get it, I'm dominated. Anyway, I get KQo in this hand. SB and BB have been very active. They've limped from every position with very marginal hands (one limped from UTG with J9s), I've seen them raise with hands like JTo from middle position. And they've cold-called (didn't see the hands). Seemed like typical donks. I'm looking for some feedback on this hand. Anything that would have been better than the way I played.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t4000 (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button (t20763)
SB (t164816)
BB (t318420)
UTG (t35616)
UTG+1 (t72016)
MP1 (t29446)
MP2 (t61220)
Hero (t90929)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q, K.
3 folds, MP2 calls t4000, Hero calls t4000, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks. I think the correct play here was to raise, but with SB and BB both having stacks that can kill me, and knowing they probably wouldn't fold unless they had complete trash, I elected to just call. So, is raising a much better option here? If so, how much to raise? 16000?

Flop: (t19200) T, J, 6 (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets t12000, MP2 folds, Hero calls t12000 (pot=t31200), SB calls t12000 (pot=t43200). BB bets out here and I suspect he has a pair. I call this because I have the OESD to the nuts and two overs on a rainbow flop. I'm not too confident with the overcards though due to the J and T on the flop. Because of this, was calling correct given that the SB was still to act? Would raising or folding have been better? If raising is better, how much?

Turn: (t55200) A (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets t24529, SB calls t24529 (pot=79729), BB folds. That is a jackpot card. Gives me the nuts with no possibility of a flush. Both players check to me so I want to make a bet that they can call. I elected to make a bet of 24529 as it left me with exactly 50000 chips. I wanted it to look like I was weak and had an escape plan. Good bet size? Should I have bet more? less?

River: (t104258) A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t50000
The Ace is either the worst or the best card in the deck for me. I'm now losing to hands like AT, AJ, and a slowplayed 66. At the same time, If SB had something like Ax (x is not J,T,or 6) then he might call my shove. Of course, I shove because it's the only bet I can really make. It's half the pot and he can call with hands that I easily beat.

If they're total cold-callers then your river bet looks good to me.

The shove on the river was my only play. No way I bet less. I'm more curious about PF, flop, and turn play.

Originally Posted by triple-t

with SB and BB both having stacks that can kill me, and knowing they probably wouldn't fold unless they had complete trash

is this not good enough reason to fold, given that theres already a limper before you?

what is MP2 like? is he also doing a little thinking hoping that one of the blinds will make a play at him and he can then push back at them with a monster?

raising it up pf is just begging MP2 to push, unless hes also a major donk and is just limping rags at this stage with his stack.

as played, i do pretty much the same as you but im folding pf.....a donk with a large stack is a great thing when u have a big hand but a near disaster when u limp in, hit the flop in some way but have no idea what he has.

My reasoning for not folding PF was that button was being a survivalist nit (or on a bad run of cards) as he hadn't seen a flop since I joined the table (maybe 10-15 hands prior). I figured the odds of his folding were >90%. Therefore I practically had the button. SB was much more active than BB. SB was limping most every hand. BB was the one that raised with JT, but he also was limping more than calling. Also, If BB raised, I figure I'd have just enough odds to see the flop.

Originally Posted by triple-t

The shove on the river was my only play.

Incorrect

Originally Posted by triple-t

I'm more curious about PF, flop, and turn play.

Grow some gonads and raise it up PF. It would need to be at least 20k. If you're not going to raise then fold.

Flop - make it 40k and call a shove if need be (it's unlikely you're up against more than 1 pair)

Turn - I like your bet size and it is likely to commit our opponent to calling a river shove. (I don't mind betting more though as this will commit them even further!)

Originally Posted by jharding666

Flop - make it 40k and call a shove if need be (it's unlikely you're up against more than 1 pair)

Having to call a shove is why I didn't want to raise the flop. I don't mind raising all-in on a strong draw, but I really don't like calling all-in without some kind of made hand.