Caught Stealing?

This hand occurred in a $210 daily tournament at my local casino. Blinds are $400/$800/$100 and I had about $20K (25BB) from the CO. The villain OTB had $14K.

As the hand began, I noted that the BB got up and walked away – ok, well technically that’s illegal, but whatever in these daily shit-shows. That begins the very familiar contagious fold situation we’ve all seen as it almost instantly folds to me.

From the CO I found and thought a steal could work there. The BB was absent and both the Button and SB had 15BB stacks. Based on that, I considered a min-raise, since I believe that to be a profitable steal sizing versus short stacks, but settled on 2.5x since I had already opened to 2.5x in the level and didn’t want to change open sizes mid-level; So, I opened to $2K, I also hadn't played a hand in a while, so I expected my perceived image to be "tighter than normal" - although, how much that mattered is anyone's guess.

The Button flat called and the SB folded, the BB was of course, not there. So, not what I was looking for, but…let’s take a flop.

Pot - $5,400
Flop -

Ok, so that was top pair against a short stack, definitely not the worst flop. However, I knew I needed to make a decision on the flop whether I was going to play for his stack. I decided that he could easily have lots of combos that I beat, flush draws straight combos, and so on. There are some combos that beat me as well, like 3 combos of 66 and bigger Qx combos, QJ is a big one in my mind. Additionally, I block some Qx combos (and if he had KQ AQ I likely would have heard about it by now) and I also block the flush.

So, all that in mind I decided to play for his stack, so I wanted to bet a size that committed me to his shove, and I could see he had about $12k behind (so I wanted to bet about 30% of his stack) – I settled on $4,500 and made the bet. The villain hesitated a bit, but put his stack in pretty quickly and I snap called as planned.

He had

Turn and river were - chop/chop

Anyway, then I got the Hellmuth treatment from this guy about what a jackass I am – his wife or girlfriend was sitting at the table as well, so I actually got the Hellmuth “Look what he did Honey” speech.

I didn’t say anything, but was thinking, “Well, the 2.5x flat call of Q10o, with 12Bb back to a CO open range, isn’t the best play either buddy!”

Anyway, analyzing this with Equilab and assigning a standard steal defense range
66-22,A8s-A2s,K2s+,Q3s+,J6s+,T6s+,96s+,85s+,75s+,64s+,53s+,A9o-A2o,K8o+,Q9o+,J9o+,T9o,98o

I’m 70/30 (72/28 actually) on that flop – which is about how it felt in real-time, I thought the Queen was good by itself. Still, I was caught stealing and ended up basically stacking off pretty damn wide. I don’t take back the pre-flop steal, especially with the BB being absent, that’s going to happen. However, should I be taking a more cautious line here and check/fold the flop, or standard C-bet/fold on the flop? Does my stack size warrant a more passive line there?

I really don't think you did anything wrong given the stack sizes. What would of been interesting is if you check the flop and he puts the bet in, and you flat, and then turn comes A and you hammer and get him to fold, but poker is not a game played in hindsight.
His play is probably a 3 bet on the button if anything. People are going to cry no matter what, but never take into account their own bad plays.

If I was in his shoes with Jx and you bet the flop, I'd jam. Flush draw, definitely shove, maybe even Ax if he's lose enough or thinks you're full of shit. Also you take down the pot from hands with an A or K that may check back and see a free card. I think playing more passively gets you into trouble, and you already decided you're not folding anyway, so no reason to pot control.And I dont think folding the flop makes sense. Personally, if you're going to check/fold the flop after hitting top pair like that, then I don't think the steal attempt is worth it.

To steal with Q3o, I would raise preflop higher, I would say 4 bb +, to be able to throw them, since with that low kicker I can not fight it on the flop.
You did not have a great difference of cheaps like cheap leader, it was missing to speak the buttom that has position on you, I had not opened so broad from Co.
From the moment that he pay me the raise, I would only play it check / fold.
My steal did not work? Maybe the next..,.let it go.
It's better to stop in time than to lose more than half of my stack.

With the flush draw I would shove, no question!

dont see anything wrong with that. i think button and sb are going to know youre trying to steal, so i would bet 2x instead of 2.5x. flop is fine, as played. A-q, k-q he shouldve shoved pre. shouldve been way ahead of his range. he was just being a jerk

It looks like a pretty well played hand on both sides. Not to mention, that, in the end, no one was hurt, so happy ending overall. Keep up the good work!