blonde poker forum

Hand from tournament I played last night.  I'd be interested to hear people's views on this - I've been thinking about it all morning.

Details:
£50 freezeout - I know most of the other player's styles well
9 Handed - 2nd level
Starting stacks 3.5k
Our Stack:  5k
Opponent Stack 4k
Blinds 50/100
Our table image is decent - (we have shown down 2 hands - AA & KK)

We are UTG and get dealt 
Qh Kc

We limp for 100

Player who is tight agressive raises to 300

Loose agressive small blind calls

I call - pot is 1k

Flop
 Kh 9h 4h
We have top pair, decent kicker, Queen flush redraw

SB checks, I check, Initial raiser bets 500

SB calls, I call
Pot is 2.5k

Turn
2s

SB checks, I check, Tighty bets 2k

SB passes, I pass.

Questions:
1) General thoughts on playing KQ UTG early on in tournament (I hate the hand pesonally, but you could see cheapish flops on this table)
2) Do you get more agressive on the flop against a known TAG given the stack sizes?
3) Good pass on turn or bad pass?

He showed me his hand - I'll reveal after feedback.

fold pre

Agree. Your hand isn't strong enough to limp UTG. Having said that and considering you've only shown big pairs, a re-raise to 800 when it gets back to you would salvage the play. As a rule I fold pre-flop this early in the tournament. Later on with bigger blinds, a tight image, and a chip advantage I would raise.

As played, the 2k TAG bet suggests he doesn't have a flush, but that doesn't mean you're ahead, or that you have the best draw. It seems reasonable to think your oppo has the  Ahrt. While his flop bet suggests it's A-K the turn bet says A-Q, because he seems more eager to finish the hand. This dilemma illustrates why getting involved with this marginal hand UTG is so problematic.

UTG with a LAG in the small blind is dangerous. Don't play anything that you can't fight back with if he raises you.

As you folded top pair with a decent flush draw I assume you don't like to fight back too aggressively so just fold it pre. When you play it and hit that flop and initial raiser makes a standard c bet just check raise him and watch him fold faster than a fast thing's fast bits!!

Tighty's 2k bet doesn't make much sense on that turn. I think he's weak. He's got something but he's worried about the hearts. If he had AK with the ace of hearts he'd want you to stay in the pot so he'd bet less. I sense that he doesn't like his hand and wants you to fold. He's not committed yet so put the decision on him and jam. Check raising that turn looks really strong.

Expect to be shown AJ hearts and have a stack rebuilding mission on your hands  ;D

o rly?

He's got 1200 left of his 3.5k starting stack and it's only the second level so yes really. If he thinks he's going to lose then he'll fold. He wants us to fold so if we don't then he's in a difficult situation. If he's tight (as we think he is) then he's folding anything that's not a monster.

Don't get me wrong I'd have much preferred to not be in this pot in the first place but as it's worked out I think the oppo can fold and if he doesn't we're still in with a chance.

But just to make my stance clear KQ UTG I'm folding pre flop.

Interesting feedback.  I think you are all right in that I got myself in a tough spot by playing KQ early in the tournie and in bad position so I won't be making that mistake again.

Tighty actually had QQ with no hearts so was in really bad shape (EvilPie read the hand well)

As a footnote, I've played with him tons and he normally wouldn't jepoardise his tournie like this.  However, it transpires he'd been on a "working lunch" and had had a few ales in the sun.  Shortly after this hand he was sent to the other table when someone got knocked out.  On his way over he stumbled into the side table and knocked 2 of his new tablemates' dinners onto the floor next to the dealer.  Wish I had had this information during the hand, as he didn't look hammered sitting there.  Ah well ;)

bluegh, i limp call his raise with KQ utg all day long. As long as you can play you'll be fine.

 Also, i think this is a 100% cr on the flop all day long. What you scared of exactly? Ur hand is enormous.

 If he calls you jam turn.

And i wish you hadnt revealed results till later.