$2.2 NLHE MTT Deep Stacked: Classic punishment for making a good play :)

[WickedFRoST]

This is a final table of the Big $2.2 MTT at poker stars. 8 players left out of 1750. We are dealt QQ in the SB.

pokerstars, $1.96 + $0.24 - Hold'em No Limit - 15,000/30,000 (2,500 ante) - 8 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

Karen_Sukiasyan (UTG): 537,024 (18 bb)
Mixfusion (UTG+1): 979,373 (33 bb)
OjciecChrzestny (MP): 1,302,647 (43 bb)
TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1): 768,347 (26 bb)
CaioXD28 (CO): 1,302,694 (43 bb)
DGonzalez22 (BU): 564,178 (19 bb)
WickedFRoZzz (SB): 1,174,868 (39 bb)
NevaskAAA (BB): 2,010,869 (67 bb)

Pre-Flop: (65,000) Hero (WickedFRoZzz) is SB with Q♣ Q♥
3 players fold, TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) raises to 60,000, CaioXD28 (CO) 3-bets to 180,000, 1 fold, WickedFRoZzz (SB) calls 165,000, 1 fold, TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) calls 120,000

Flop: (590,000) 8♥ K♥ 3♣ (3 players)
WickedFRoZzz (SB) checks, TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) checks, CaioXD28 (CO) bets 210,000, WickedFRoZzz (SB) folds, TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) calls 210,000

Turn: (1,010,000) Q♠ (2 players)
TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) checks, CaioXD28 (CO) bets 707,000, TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) calls 375,847 (all-in)

River: (1,761,694) Q♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: 1,761,694

Showdown:
CaioXD28 (CO) shows A♥ K♣ (two pair, Kings and Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 60%, Flop: 66%, Turn: 68%, River: 100%)

TonyFSaS'90 (MP+1) shows J♥ T♥ (a pair of Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 40%, Flop: 34%, Turn: 32%, River: 0%)

CaioXD28 (CO) wins 1,761,694


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I'm quite confident that I played pretty standard here, given the ICM implications, however, one question bothers me: Is there any chance that folding preflop could be a better play? I couldn't think of one myself, though.

Nevertheless, it was quite a fun hand despite the result

 

[fundiver199]

Personally I would have jammed preflop. QQ benefit a lot from protection, and flops with a K or A are going to be very awkward out of position. As played check-folding the flop is fine, especially against two opponents. Its very likely, someone could have a K, as in fact they did.

 

[WickedFRoST]

Personally I would have jammed preflop. QQ benefit a lot from protection, and flops with a K or A are going to be very awkward out of position. As played check-folding the flop is fine, especially against two opponents. Its very likely, someone could have a K, as in fact they did.

When there is no ICM, jamming here, indeed, is THE best play, since we have the worst position post flop, and should not have a cold calling range in the first place.

But, as I said, it was the final table, which makes the CO range extremely tight. And against such a tight range, considering we still have a reasonable stack left (32bb), - calling is a much better option in the long run in my opinion.

 

[fundiver199]

But, as I said, it was the final table, which makes the CO range extremely tight.

I kind of disagree with that. CO is 3-betting against a HJ open, and he cover, so he should be 3-betting pretty light to apply pressure to HJ. Yes it does suck, when we run into AA or KK and bust in 8. place, while there are 3 shorter stacks at the table. But this will also happen, if we just call, since we cant fold QQ postflop on a flop with 3 low cards. So with this line of thinking its almost like, you are begging for an A or K to come, so you can lay it down. And this just mean, you are allowing CO to realise all his equity with hands like A5s, KQs, KJs etc.

 

[WickedFRoST]

you are begging for an A or K to come, so you can lay it down.

That's not true. I would try to play as optimally as I could postflop.
I am not putting my opponent on a particular hand. I'm playing against his whole range.

Let's not be results-oriented here, and just try to put him on a range first.
You say he should be wider than usual, but is he really? He is not the biggest stack at the table, so should not be pushing around like crazy.

Yes, I do agree that he could be isolating the shorter stack, to apply pressure, but wouldn't he be choosing a decent hand for that purpose? There is absolutely no reason for him to do this with 55 for example, or AT. He is a solid player from brazil, and he clearly knew what he was doing.

So my vision of his range was: AQs+, TT+, AKo (maybe he does this with 99 and AJs) for value, and lets include some bluff hands like A5s, 78s-9Ts, and KQs

Now when we jam here, he folds all his bluffs, and the bottom of his value range as well, because our 4-bet shove looks extremely strong. As for his calling range we only have 47% equity against it, while drawing nearly dead to a huge portion of hands (12 combos).

So basically when we shove here we bust like 5/10 times, when we get called. and I don't see how this can be a profitable play, given that every ladder at this stage is a significant number of buy-ins.

Also we should not forget that a player in HJ is still in the hand, and he too could have us beat sometimes.

I'd really would rather shove AKs here with blockers to the nuts. QQ have great playability post flop, while AK do not.