QQ play after ugly flop

MickeyHoldem

B&M Tourney... 42 players left... pays 10 spots... blinds are 500/1000... I have ~45000 which is about 2x avg and 3rd at my table. I get Q:diamond:Q on the button... all fold around to the cut-off (~55000 in chips) who makes it 4000... looks like a steal attempt... so I pop it up to 12000. The BB calls (for about half his chips) as does the cut-off. Hmmmm?

The flop comes 2:club: 3:club: 9:club: ... and both check it to me...

What do you do here and why... I gave it some good thought at the table but I was wondering how far apart my thinking is from yours:D

The Hawk

i push my stack

magithighs

Bob Ciafone describes this type of situation from his highest finish at the WSOP. He mentions that he does not want a big fight with the big stack when going down the stretch. I see no reason to push it all in at this point, as it's not clear that you're ahead. The BB is smooth calling your re-raise against two huge stacks. I'm thinking he's go aces or kings -- queens or jacks, I think he'd push all-in. Then you've got the cut-off to worry about. Yes he looked like he was on a steal, but he called your re-raise after the BB called. So, I put him on something in a Group 1 range.

Personally, I think I play it like I have AK of clubs. What would you do in that situation? I would think a while and then check and see if I can set the trap -- I'm not worried about a scare card. So, I check the flop.

Then if the turn is a scary card, you can release. I think many players think they must fight to the death with premium hands. With a big stack, you can steal the blinds with much worse hands, so you're not worried about the clock.

If the turn card is not a scary card, and it's check to me -- I bet 3/4 of the BB stack -- again this is similar play to someone holding AK clubs -- trying to squeeze out as much as they can without scaring anyone off. For the BB it's like facing an all-in bet. And, if he pushes, and the cutoff pushes the rest of his stack -- well it's fold time.

Now if the turn action happes to have the BB push, and the cutoff pushing -- easy fold.

So, a very long-winded way of saying check the flop!

Cheers
Magi

Dave Scharf

I like checking the flop.

*Someone* is way ahead. I am not sure who. But, when someone is way ahead I don't hate giving a free card and seeing what happens.

I don't have betting. But, I don't favour moving in. What will you be called with? flush that has you beat. Bet $18,000 and move in on the turn if no death card arrives.