Early on in the SNG I ran into this hand. Wondering if I should have played more aggressively or If I should have folded. I have a tendency to just call these hands down (check/call) early on in the one table SNG's. Is this too passive of a play with this hand? And I have no solid reads yet on the player. Thanks for all your input.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP1 (t1430)
MP2 (t1530)
CO (t2155)
Button (t2815)
SB (t1170)
BB (t1510)
UTG (t1520)
Hero (t1370)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Q:spade:, K:club:.
1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: (t105) 4:heart:, Q:heart:, 9:spade: (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t90, BB folds, Hero calls t90.

Turn: (t465) J:heart: (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets t120, Hero calls t120.

River: (t705) 4:spade: (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets t300, Hero calls t300.

Final Pot: t1305

interesting hand.

i think pf and flop is pretty standard (i oppose reraising here since you could very well be beat by a set or q9, plus you're oop)

turn is actually where i would c/r. maybe just a little bet to something like 300-350. i'd be representing the flush if he didnt have it (and he may very well fold now) or i'd know if he caught it bc i think he'd probably reraise. if he just calls, this also allows for a possible checkdown on the river bc he may fear a c/r from you again. but if he calls on the turn and bets on the river, im pretty sure you're beat and you can safely through away your hand

Move in (c/r) on the turn. He cannot call in this sng setting and you have outs.

I'd put in some kind of raise preflop with that as long as no one has entered the pot before you. Then you could be pretty confidient anyone who calls the flop bet has a set, AQ or is drawing to the flush. Then you can bet again on the turn and if they call or raise you can be done with the hand.

Raising preflop puts a little fear in people so when they do hit a set or flush they really let you know.

I was UTG and didnt want to play any expensive pots at that point.

then I'd probably have folded preflop or folded on the turn. It's cheap to call there but why would you think you're top pair is good after a re-raise and a bet? I think some times (and early in a SnG is one of those) it's best to chuck a hand and move on. Maybe you got outplayed at that point but I think in SnGs players lose more chips by holding onto top pair than anything else.

The check raise all-in play at the turn is much sexier but I don't think it's worth the risk. It's a hot shot play but even if you win it 2 out of 3 times you're only turning a small profit. With that many people still in you should be able to hold out for a better hand that can break someone. Fold after his turn bet.

how did the hand end?

I definitely standard raise PF. You are only dominated by AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ, all of which should re-raise and youre out of the hand cheaply. If youre not reraised and no A flops, a continuation bet will knock out the weak Aces and you are in control of the hand.

When you are OOP, you want to play high cards more strongly pre-flop to narrow the field and keep weak hands in position from stealing for fear of a reraise from you.

I just do not like QK off in early position, early in a tourney. Too much can happen behind you. There are better spots to enter pots. While I agree there are not many hands that are ahead, it is just a tough hand to play from early position.

I begin to like KQ as the tourney goes on, but again, in better position. Never forget NLHE is about position.