This may be a dumb question but one of those scenarios that I'm never positive what to do. I have AQ suited in middle position when UTG +2 raises 3x the blind. We both have stacks in the 5k range just after the first break of tourney with blinds at 75/150. What do you guys do with AQs here. I'm trying to post the hh too just to see if I'm able to and that way you can see stacks and such.

PokerStars Game #24623929766: Tournament #137801448, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2009/02/05 14:10:08 ET
Table '137801448 312' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Mitch181188 (8645 in chips)
Seat 2: Blazdu93 (5160 in chips)
Seat 3: Ferdo2005 (5030 in chips)
Seat 4: gt9550 (5675 in chips)
Seat 5: Lillaskeden (2840 in chips)
Seat 6: rilana32 (10085 in chips)
Seat 7: jimo510302 (6210 in chips)
Seat 8: leonpe (3640 in chips)
Seat 9: precojo (8955 in chips)
leonpe: posts small blind 75
precojo: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gt9550 [Qd Ad]
Mitch181188: folds
Blazdu93: raises 300 to 450
Ferdo2005: folds
gt9550: folds
Lillaskeden: folds
rilana32: calls 450
jimo510302: folds
leonpe: folds
precojo: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 8c 5c]
Blazdu93: bets 800
rilana32: raises 1300 to 2100
Blazdu93: folds
Uncalled bet (1300) returned to rilana32
rilana32 collected 2725 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2725 | Rake 0
Board [As 8c 5c]
Seat 1: Mitch181188 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Blazdu93 folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Ferdo2005 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: gt9550 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Lillaskeden folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: rilana32 collected (2725)
Seat 7: jimo510302 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: leonpe (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: precojo (big blind) folded before Flop

I like this line for AQs. If you reraise preflop and get repopped on, it'd be a different story, but I like the RR on the flop and taking it down there with a possible flush on the board.

He folded preflop.

I would flat call the raise preflop, and probably flat call the flop if it was 3 way, re-raise if it was HU. It really depends on the history with the players though.

IMHO, this is one of those questions that can't be answered on here. I think this is a circumstance that you could validate any number of plays. I'll give it a whirl though......personally, i probably would have folded based on position and the "new" table composition. I'd feel very vulnerable re-upping it in this position, and if calling seems right here, it's a good idea to examine folding.

So we hit the flop pretty good. But the problem is it was "pretty" good. It looks like the original raiser got beat by the flop, but what about this tagalong that would have had position on us. If we called this hand, we would have faced a large pot bet on the flop. Basically we're gonna be riding a good hand, but one we're scared of the whole way, ESPECIALLY if the 3rd player stays in after our call or raise of the flop bet.

Which all leads back to folding from the onset. Better spot(s) to be had.

Nit.

Yup.

Unless you have an extensive history with villain (which I'm assuming you don't) then I would definitely at least call here. Pushing is definitely a spew, and I don't know that we're comfortable raising and investing a large percentage of our stack w/ AQ here.

Is that like saying my play sucked? If so, I don't entirely disagree. I guess I should've flatted and then pushed the flop or something? Still trying to improve at this stupid game. Thanks for the info all.

Nit means he thinks you played it far too tightly.

Cool, thanks. Thats kind of what I figured and I think I agree. I believe that sometimes I get too caught up in just trying to cash, and ignore the concept of accumulating a true stack that could take me deep. Essentially I think I'm playing scared.

I flat preflop and probably just flat Blazdu's bet on the flop for pot control..we have a lot of BB's here and want to get value from our hand but don't want to stack off against AK or a set, either. Rilhana's c/r comes from a much tighter range if she's got a decent bet and call in front of her, so we can have a good think on it if she still does it and Blazdu folds.

lol...That's what I get for scanning quickly...

NIT

Alright, flatting would definitely be the best play. A 3bet is going to get us too pot committed here

But you have to play this hand, especially in a $5.50 buyin. Don't be surprised when initial raiser ends up with ATsooted