QQ vs A9 suited

Hy all,

I dropped out of an important tournament on Saturday and would like to have some comments of you more expert players, as if my play was correct. I'm convinced it was and I would play the exact way in every future occasion. Some players I talked to afterwards told me that I played the hand too aggressively in order to build my chipstack too fast. So here's what happened:

We started in 93 players, 10K in chips each and after 5 hours play it was down to 33. The overall chipleader at that time had about 86K and I was at around 45K and chipleader at my table. I had an excellent read on all the players at my table and was patiently waiting to get the right cards at the right time in the right spot to take all their chips. Then I got hammered with the following hand:

Blinds 1K/2K with 100 ante for a pot of 3.8K. UTG raised to 12K. UTG was 2nd in chips at the table with around 37K. Some hands earlier he raised from late position 6K to call with JJ the BB who went all-in. So I knew he had a legit hand to raise and steal the pot, but a too marginal hand to see a flop. I'd put him on A with decent kicker, 10 or lower, likely suited or eventually a medium pair.
I was in 2nd position and looked at QQ. My only goal was to drive out all the other remaining players and to get all his chips in pre-flop for a heads-up. I made it 35K to go. All the other players folded and he almost immediately called me showing A9clubs.

There were around 75K in the pot and I was extremly happy with my play, until another Ace appeared on the board, can't remember anymore if on the flop or on the turn. Two hands later I got AKsuited in the BB and called another shortstack who went all-in (with 99) and busted me out of the tournament.

Now, my consideration of the QQ vs A9 suited was (and STILL is) the following:
- Going heads-up with all my opponents chips in pre-flop with is the best scenario to win the hand
- My opponent makes a "mistakes" by calling as he HAS to know that he is behind
- I leave him with only 3 certain outs for the Ace (beside, evtentual straight and/or flush draws)
- I should be about 70/30 favourite to win
- I can double up with a strong hand and reach for a top position in the tourney avoiding to wait for the bubble and then have to gamble with a mediocre hand like A9 suited

Some told me that I should just have called the raise of 12K and then play it out after the flop. I don't agree because of:
- other players could call with medium pairs or else and get lucky on the flop
- if the A comes on the flop I will have to lay down my hand and lose 12K

I would rather play for all my chips with QQ (in this case) vs an opponent who is left with only 3 outs to beat me. If he then wins it, like in the above case, then so be it. In the end....... that's POKER !!

Am I really wrong ????

Cheers

DJ Alex Vega

Are you really a DJ?

Yeah, why ?

LOL..... thanks for the reply

I think this is a fine opportunity to make a big play. I've seen players make that 4x - 6x raise in EP with mid to semi-high pocket pairs (77-QQ) that they are afraid to play after the flop, or with weaker aces (AQ-AJ, or A9s like this guy) that again they are afraid to play after the flop. People usually play their AA/KK much softer than this, since they want action with those hands.

Against this range, you're right in your estimation that you would be about 70/30 favorite to win. And if I can get all my chips in the middle, late in the tournament, as a 70/30 favorite, I'm there in a flash.

Pretty standard and you played it very well.
His call is horrible though.
Unlucky.

Thanks for your comments about this..... it's pretty nice to know that the decision made was correct.

Cheers

Yeah, i think though there is an argument to call though. Before get into it Id like to clarify that you played fine and got unlucky.

However, you did mention you had a geat read on all the players, nd you had enugh chips to wait around. Calling would alow you to bail on an AKx type flop saving you alot of chips. Somtimes in MTT's late, when we're lose to the money and feel we can outplay our table ts better to pla hns ike QQ-TT AK AQ a little more passivly when fasing EP raises from players with the ability to take all our chips. If this guy ha 12K i would say the ay you played is by far the best way, but givin he had more chips then you, you had a good read, and you where inn a good position to make a FT, calling could be an option here. Now, playing this way, if you win, you basicly gaurente a FT. BUT when you ge unlucky, your gone. Tours are a different kind of animal in that survival is key, not nessecarly makin all the +ev desisions wil get you to the FT.

Just a thought.

OK, I get the point there to just "call" the EP Raise.

What I don't agree with this play is that the remaining 8 players can get into the pot with "only" 12K instead of having to commit all their chips (when I bet 35K). This way I allow players with A2 or other crap to call relatively cheaply and get lucky on the flop.

Once getting such a premium starting hand, I really can't lay that down or just call a raise allowing others in the pot with crap and take my chips with a lucky flop when I have the chance to bust one out being in a 70/30 position.

you have an M of ~10, so this is an easy push. I gladly ship my money in this good preflop if i can.


equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 67.987% 67.81% 00.18% 1161098 3051.50 { QdQs }
Hand 1: 32.013% 31.83% 00.18% 545103 3051.50 { Ac9c }

Don't ever just call this.