Should I have slow played this? AQ - makes two pair on flop

I don't have any reads on villian as he'd just joined the table (4 hands ago)

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($10.35)
Hero (Button) ($12.90)
SB ($9.10)
BB ($9.85)
UTG ($10.80)
UTG+1 ($13)
MP1 ($9.60)
MP2 ($1.30)
MP3 ($9.60)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, Q
5 folds, CO raises to $0.30, Hero calls $0.30, 2 folds

Flop: ($0.75) Q, 7, A (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $0.70, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.75 | Rake: $0

meh, without a read on the guy, you never know. That 3xBB pre-flop is pretty weak at those stakes. He was probably holding low pairs at best. Flopping a monster like that, I probably would have checked the flop and risked being out drawn, just to see if he puts in an informational bet. But no free looks at the river. In any case, you probably won all you were gonna win.

No. Don't slowplay 2-pair hands. As a general rule play them fast because more often than not you're playing on coordinated flops with a lot of turn cards you don't want to see, so your opponent should be paying for the privelidge. (fwiw, for many players, 2-pair is actually a net loser hand).

Originally Posted by Warpe

No. Don't slowplay 2-pair hands. As a general rule play them fast because more often than not you're playing on coordinated flops with a lot of turn cards you don't want to see, so your opponent should be paying for the privelidge. (fwiw, for many players, 2-pair is actually a net loser hand).

but is flopping top two pair HU a net loser? In a multiway pot, I agree with you 100%. But I think this situation allows for a little more risk and is still overwhelmingly +EV.

What did he do in the previous 4 hands? Even if it's nothing, that's something.

What hands does he check with? Which of those hands check/call? Which of those hands check/fold? If he check/raises, can you stack off? How will certain turn cards (K, backdoor flush card, back door straight card, bottom card pairing, you making a full house, otherwise blank card) affect your equity against his range? If you do check behind, and he bets, what hands does he check on the flop and bet the turn with? Is he capable of a bluff here? Is he capable of check-raising the flop with worse than AQ, then bet/calling a raise on the turn?

And I'm not even good at poker :P

Originally Posted by kb coolman

Originally Posted by Warpe

No. Don't slowplay 2-pair hands. As a general rule play them fast because more often than not you're playing on coordinated flops with a lot of turn cards you don't want to see, so your opponent should be paying for the privelidge. (fwiw, for many players, 2-pair is actually a net loser hand).

but is flopping top two pair HU a net loser? In a multiway pot, I agree with you 100%. But I think this situation allows for a little more risk and is still overwhelmingly +EV.

Slowplaying strong but vulnerable hands is fancy play syndrome and there's no reason to encourage it at these stakes.

thanks guys

Bet smaller for sure. Like a little over half or just half given board texture.

Originally Posted by kmind

Bet smaller for sure. Like a little over half or just half given board texture.

I was gonna say .50, but I don't know if a PSB is atypical at these stakes. Deny odds but not hope.

the board isn't very drawy, so i'd bet 1/2 - 2/3rd pot instead of PSB

I start by 3betting preflop. One of the worst mistakes the average 10NL player makes (which I assume he is until proven otherwise) is calling 3bets with dominated hands OOP.

Also: the earlier you learn how to play in 3bet pots the better. I know it's kinda scary at first 3betting anything else but QQ+ AK but once you get used to widening your range and gain some more experience it starts getting to be a whole lot of fun.

As played I like betting and I also like the betsize. Your betsize generally won't affect his calling range all that much. If he wants to stick around with JT, KQ, AJ, TT or whatever he's going to call a bet regardless of it's size.

Seems like he whiffed and would have given up to any kind of action.

Sugar Nut

Thanks again for all the great advice