Fine line between "too weak" and spewing

So I decided to move up to the $100 again after regaining confidence and pwning the $50 tables for a week or so. I moved down because I was running bad, not really playing bad. I have never seen this person before and this is only my 2nd hand with him. I really didn't feel comfy with any part of this hand. This is a common situation that I feel I need some real improvement with.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

BB ($99.70)
UTG ($107.55)
UTG+1 ($114.80)
UTG+2 ($47.29)
MP1 ($20.50)
MP2 ($125.65)
MP3 ($170.30)
CO ($99)
Button ($101.80)
Hero ($99)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, Q. Hero posts a blind of $0.50.
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $1, 5 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $3.5, BB raises to $6, UTG+2 folds, Hero calls $3.

Flop: ($15) 9, 5, 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $10, BB calls $10.

Turn: ($35) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $20, BB raises to $55, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $110

I have alot of trouble with this kind of hand too. I think you are behind there most of the time.

Preflop: His range has to be pretty wide here since you look like a possible steal. Shall we say:

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AK, AQ, (AJ, KQ ?)

Flop. That call rules out the big offsuite cards.

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AKs, AQs, (AJs, KQs)

I can see any of these cards calling if he still puts you on a steal/likes to chase draws.

I dont think 88 raises the turn. I think TT, JJ probably raise the flop if they are going to raise. I think the big suited cards proably raise the flop if they are going to raise so Im going to take a leap of faith agaisnt a narrower range of:

AA, KK, QQ, 99.


So against the optimistic range you are:



equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 48.3665 % 46.80% 01.56% { QhQs }
Hand 2: 51.6335 % 50.07% 01.56% { 99+, AcKc, AcQc, AcJc, KcQc }

Slightly the ragged end of a coinflip.

Against the narrow range you are a massive underdog.



Given the action it is more likely he has a big pair/ set than a semibluffed draw (or 88).

Villain is clearly playing for stacks and has another $29 (ish). You will need to invest another $64 to win $139 so you are getting slightly better than 2:1.

You can call if he will play TT, and JJ like this. You have to fold if he wont. I think most of the time this will be a fold.


equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 45.1299 % 43.34% 01.79% { QhQs }
Hand 2: 54.8701 % 53.08% 01.79% { 99+ }



Like I said I am these situations cause me alot of headaches so I am mostly posting this so someone can correct me. I suspect my ranges are a little off.

I like this fold

I can't really say that I like any part of this hand at all.

First of all raise it up more preflop from the SB here. You have a real powerhouse and you are raising less then pot, out of position with and early position limper.

As played, min 3-bet behind by the BB is quite confusing so I like just seeing the flop.

I think in this instance you should check and see what happens. Pot control is a good thing here.

As played, turn is a good fold IMO. I'd consider check/call here, but bet/fold seems good and is probably the better and obviously more agressive play.

Lukie, as I said I just moved back to the $100 tables and I was still adjusting to the pfrs and usually raising from the sb is a raise to $4 for me plus $1 extra for limpers. This raise was a raise to $4 but it should have been to $5.

As played, turn is a good fold IMO. I'd consider check/call here, but bet/fold seems good and is probably the better and obviously more agressive play.

It's aggressive and gets me off of my losing hand if he raises, but what if he doesn't raise? What would I do on the river? Check/call or check/fold I think but I'm not sure.

I think in this instance you should check and see what happens. Pot control is a good thing here.

I agree to an extent but we are HU in a pot that he reraised and if I check we know he's going to bet and I know nothing more about his hand than I did before except he seems to want to play it. On the other hand the way it played, I still knew nothing about his hand really except that I have to fire the turn because he likely lays AK down to a turn bet. I really think pot control goes out the window when it's reraised pf if he knows how to bet. I would obviously like to reach a showdown here and if I check/call anywhere I think it would take a stack to do so.

The turn is where I'm confused the most, but not about the fold, about betting or checking and future river actions based on it. The flop obviously sucks to, well really the whole thing does. Thank you people for your replies so far.