How should I have played this?

[GfoRce009]

Playing in an MTT on poker.co.uk last night, finished 44/191.

Blinds 400/800. I was on the button with KQc. There was a minimum raise in early position to 1600. 3 callers prior to me. I called. Flop comes K Q 9 rainbow. Early position shove all-in (this was happening quite a lot and not with premium hands either) - approx 10k. Two folders, then a call all-in approx 12k. I didn't like the call before me but I called - all-in 10k. I correctly put the first shove on top pair.

Sure enough the guy before me had 10 J and made the straight. I don't really know what I was putting him on - obv it was a drawing board for a straight or I though maybe AA or AK. There had been some loose all-ins and calls.

My initial thought was I should've re-raised pre-flop and I would've probably seen him off. The reason I didn't was because there were 4 in before me and I thought I would get called by at least 2, and was worried about the ace coming on the flop, or someone coming over the top of me.

How would you have played this hand?

[jingjangjong]

Squeeeeeeeeeze out the limpers man!!!

[GfoRce009]

Squeeeeeeeeeze out the limpers man!!!

What would you have raised to given that 3 people called an initial raise? It was quite a loose table so I was worried about someone coming over the top of me, or an ace coming on the flop with one or more callers.

[fishboy1983]

The button is key, you have to make the power play and squeeze. The guy with J 10 was bound to limp, as its a good limping hand and with the others in the pot he was getting a good price.

KQ is a shit hand when in the pot with 4 other ppl. You wouldnt wanna be in the pot 4 ways with AA let alone KQ.

If you reraise on the button and someone shoves then you really gotta think about laying it down. If they just call, then you got a chance to hit the board.

[GfoRce009]

The button is key, you have to make the power play and squeeze. The guy with J 10 was bound to limp, as its a good limping hand and with the others in the pot he was getting a good price.

KQ is a shit hand when in the pot with 4 other ppl. You wouldnt wanna be in the pot 4 ways with AA let alone KQ.

If you reraise on the button and someone shoves then you really gotta think about laying it down. If they just call, then you got a chance to hit the board.

Ok, thanks. I realised I didn't play position very well. With a stack of 10k, what would you have re-raised to?

[TankmanDan]

Your stack size is fairly critical to this decision. What was it?

Tbh I don't like min raises from early positions from opponents. It smacks of premium hand and wanting to lure in 1/2 callers.
You had very good value to call pre with 4 others in the pot but you have to think about what sort of hands they are likely to be calling WITH. Most likely ace-face or broadway cards or small pairs looking to set-mine, all of which potentially have you dominated.

If there is only 1 or 2 others you can flat call here, I don't like the squeeze play with that sort of hand. You are only getting called by hands that are beating you.

Again, stack size here is critical in relation to blinds and overall structure but unless you are really short stacked, I think the right move is to fold pre and make some blind steals when you are opening the pot if you need to make a few chips up....

[GfoRce009]

Your stack size is fairly critical to this decision. What was it?

Tbh I don't like min raises from early positions from opponents. It smacks of premium hand and wanting to lure in 1/2 callers.
You had very good value to call pre with 4 others in the pot but you have to think about what sort of hands they are likely to be calling WITH. Most likely ace-face or broadway cards or small pairs looking to set-mine, all of which potentially have you dominated.

If there is only 1 or 2 others you can flat call here, I don't like the squeeze play with that sort of hand. You are only getting called by hands that are beating you.

Again, stack size here is critical in relation to blinds and overall structure but unless you are really short stacked, I think the right move is to fold pre and make some blind steals when you are opening the pot if you need to make a few chips up....

Glad another view point has come up because I didn't think it was a simple one. I had a stack of 10,000. Blinds were 400/800 with ante of 100.

[TankmanDan]

Hmmm.. ante makes it a little cloudier tbh as there is 2200 in the pot before the cards are dealt! (assuming you are 10 handed)

Because of this you should be aware that people will be more likely to try and pick up pots with small raises. But you only have just under 5 orbits left in your stack at this point and need to find a spot to start pushing....

Its a tricky one tbh. But by calling you are pretty much commiting yourself to the hand. A shove pre flop might well have gotten rid of the J-10 (depending on how committed HE was) but you still would have had at least one caller I suspect, who, whilst your 2 pair would have been good on the flop, would have likely had a number of outs.

You should be in shove or fold mode at this stage and with that stack. With 4 others in the pot I either shove and cross my bollocks and pray for a miracle flop, or I fold and shove every time I have an opportunity to open the pot.
Probably the latter.

[swinebag22]

Dan has pretty much said my answer. I would definitely fold this pre flop though. Given the raise and 3 callers, this is too many players to get past with a shove with QK.

[swinebag22]

Dan has pretty much said my answer. I would definitely fold this pre flop though. Given the raise and 3 callers, this is too many players to get past with a shove with QK.

As played, you aren't folding top 2 with these stack sizes, but must fear the worst when you have 2 all ins before you.