Hypothetical QQ on the bubble

I know QQ hands get a lot of discussion, but hypothetically speaking how would you play this spot on the bubble? (Not a real spot, just using as an example)

UTG 15bb (no prior read)
Hero (button) 15 BB


Hero dealt QQ


UTG raises to 3.5bb,
Hero ?


Shove would be my natural go to in any situation like this, but on the bubble it seems more iffy. Like how often on the bubble is UTG raising without AJ/KQ+, meaning we would be flipping or slightly ahead at best for our tournament life.


What are your thoughts on this, bearing in mind it's all hypothetical, not based on any real spot.

snap shove for me

If you are with biggest stack you can call or raise but if you not it’s better to wait that bubble burst. I have bust out with AA in the bubble so definitely is better to wait

I snap shove here. Of course the last 5 tournaments near the bubble I have shove QQ and lost every time. But I am still shoving them. You have lots of fold equity and a great hand.

If you have a proper bankroll a min cash shouldn't mean much and with a 30BB stack you give you self a better shot at making a deep run.

gabpoker said:

I snap shove here. Of course the last 5 tournaments near the bubble I have shove QQ and lost every time. But I am still shoving them. You have lots of fold equity and a great hand.

If you have a proper bankroll a min cash shouldn't mean much and with a 30BB stack you give you self a better shot at making a deep run.

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Yeah good point. I guess the chips are worth more than a min cash is. Cheers for your opinion!

If you want to reach the paid places in the tournament, just call with QQ and if you not have proper pot odds fold!

(I had a similar situation in poker stars. I hold the KK and if I did not fold them I left the tournament.)

Do you play to win or do you play to cash? All-in. You might lose a few but in the long run you will profit alot more than when playing safe and going for min-cash.

It is a call in my opinion, I think there is a way to add a vote to a thread to make things interesting.

Love those questions. Mainly because you can find some good advices from others. The thing is that getting so much contradicting advices and you dont know who is giving to you. Is he a good player or someone who tells you just what he does? Anyway, I will tell my thoughts on this but keep in mind I fall on the latter.

I believe the key point here is that you are in the bubble. That change the way to play hands. Bubble means two things, most of the players are playing tight, and the risk of losing chips is outweight that of gaining. So, you have nice fold equity and you also have a nice hand in case you get called. Now the other key point is that you have no reads on the opponent. So you shouldnt make fancy play or risk flipping. I would just raise his bet to see if I could get him fold and get some value if he doesnt hit his hand without risking too much if I lose and then just play the flop as usual. But thats me and I am not sure if thats the best way.

Hm. It's difficult to say. It basically depends on the opponent you play against. But again I would rather push it. It's quite well anyway and weak at the same time. It is not one of situations where I could give defenite answer.

Unless you have AA or KK I think that is a call and see a flop.

When you get to the bubble a lot of the rift raft has busted out and I'd give them some credit for AQ, AK, 1010-AA. If an over card hits I'd most likely let it go. It is usually a tough fold for people but it is far better to fold "maybe" the best hand and find a better spot than bust out when the villain flips AK.


It is only 1 hand. You really want to try to avoid risking your whole tournament on 1 hand as much as possible.

My opinion is that you have to think through what the Villian in UTG position is raising with. As you mentioned in this scenario (even if he is trying to steal because the bubble is near) how often would he do this without AJ+,KQ+? In addition if he has 15BB then he is likely looking to first cash, then try to figure out how to go deep.

If I did the math correctly, villian's range as you've defined it is equity ~44% to your QQ equity of ~55%. When shoving with QQ we also have to consider that there is a 41% chance that an A or K will hit the flop.


All that said, it comes down to do you want to first cash, then try to get chips OR do you want to push as hard as you can to get chips when others might be playing tighter to cruise to the final table?!?


Oh - as a side note, I once folded QQ on the bubble of a freeroll with 6BB. Some would call me crazy, but that fold ended up making me 8th place instead of risking 11th place and no $$. Of course, in my scenario I would have needed a few miracle double-ups to put me back in the running where-as your scenario you still have enough to raise.

If this is a regular turny this is a snap shove for me. I think that if a min cash in a turny matter you are playing to high. I can understand a conservative approach if this is "the turny of your life" (as you got a ticket from a satelitte and a min cash will boost your BR).

Mateo said:

I know QQ hands get a lot of discussion, but hypothetically speaking how would you play this spot on the bubble? (Not a real spot, just using as an example)

UTG 15bb (no prior read)
Hero (button) 15 BB


Hero dealt QQ


UTG raises to 3.5bb,
Hero ?


Shove would be my natural go to in any situation like this, but on the bubble it seems more iffy. Like how often on the bubble is UTG raising without AJ/KQ+, meaning we would be flipping or slightly ahead at best for our tournament life.


What are your thoughts on this, bearing in mind it's all hypothetical, not based on any real spot.

Click to expand...

I would call simply because if the flop comes ace or king you got to fold because queens are no good.

If the flop is more favourable then bet a half sized pot.

Spaceman said:

Love those questions. Mainly because you can find some good advices from others. The thing is that getting so much contradicting advices and you dont know who is giving to you. Is he a good player or someone who tells you just what he does? Anyway, I will tell my thoughts on this but keep in mind I fall on the latter.

I believe the key point here is that you are in the bubble. That change the way to play hands. Bubble means two things, most of the players are playing tight, and the risk of losing chips is outweight that of gaining. So, you have nice fold equity and you also have a nice hand in case you get called. Now the other key point is that you have no reads on the opponent. So you shouldnt make fancy play or risk flipping. I would just raise his bet to see if I could get him fold and get some value if he doesnt hit his hand without risking too much if I lose and then just play the flop as usual. But thats me and I am not sure if thats the best way.

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Yes, I agree that you don't know where the advice is coming from and I know that I don't have many posts in this forum. So with an acknowledgement that I am a bit out of my comfort zone in terms of online poker. I would feel positive on my statement in a live game. So in the spirit of honesty, I would say I would call because if there was a re-raise I could fold and still be within the bubble.

This is a big bet from an early position, we just fold and do not take risks.

pokijh said:

Do you play to win or do you play to cash? All-in. You might lose a few but in the long run you will profit alot more than when playing safe and going for min-cash.

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Agree 100%. The goal is to get to the top few/couple of spots where the real money is.

I do all in, because I want to earn more chips and win the tournament

I think I call, take a look at the flop and go from there.

Such a tough call.

If the buy in is huge and I am relatively low, then I would wait for the money. I have been knocked out with AA on the bubble.

If it is a low buy in and my goal is to go deep ( goal always to win ), I would either shove or call to see the flop.

I like folding here. Some winnings are better than none.

I advise you to go all-in

I'm in favour of shoving. For me it's better to built a 30bb stack at this spot rather than fold and wait after bubble for good hands with now having 5-10bbs.