Alright everyone knows who Stinger is obviously and he's just sat down at my table 3-4 hands ago in the 5k last week. Our table is pretty tough with JP Kelly, Sam Chartier, Dipthrong, and Huy Nguyen.

Blinds are 300/600 and we're about 10-15 seconds from break when the dealer starts the shuffle for this hand so everyone's already itching to leave/halfway out of their seats. I know Stinger is probably aware of this and expect him to open much wider than normal (he's one of the few who doesn't seem to be halfway to the door).

I've been coached by Timex for a few months who's one of his good friends and I also was talking to Timex on Skype once when he was at Stinger's apartment so there's pretty decent chance he recognized me but I'm not certain. I assume he thinks I'm a standard MTT player who thinks like most do.

It folds to him HJ-1. He has about 20-22k and he makes it 1400. I have ~17.5k and look down at QJ in the HJ.

Although I think a 3bet is obviously profitable I'm not sure if he'll think the same thing I do and think I'm trying to just steal his lighter-than-usual open and thus 4b with a high frequency. Additionally, the bb in this hand is a huge dolt who will defend with any two cards that are remotely connected ie (95o, 64o) etc. He's already shown down some pretty bad hands in his blind defense. So I elect to call. BB also comes along as expected.

Flop is Q93r. BB checks, Stinger bets 2200, I think for 15-20 seconds and call, BB folds.

Turn is a 5 completing rainbow.

Stinger thinks for 15-20 seconds and bets 5800 into a pot of ~10k. I have around 14k back. His sizing definitely threw me off quite a bit because even though he's a cash player, stacks make it so that bet is reallllly awkward and I think he's pretty aware of that.

So what should I do? I've heard call, fold, and shove from a few people I respect so think it's an interesting, if seemingly simple spot.

QJs is way too good of a hand to 3bet here with these stacks.

Say "If I'm beat, I'm beat. Screw it, I'm allin"

and throw your chips in the middle.

Can't fold top pair to stinger in this spot.

Agreed on QJs being too good of a hand to 3b/f here; meant to put that initially in the post as well as a justification for flatting but forgot to

anyway, carry on

raise/call flop

jam pre, child please

all of what stealthmunk said

i like calling until the world ends. think he expects you to fold turn often. his sizing "threatens your stack", so i'd be surprised if he followed through on the river, but still not folding.

what, to try to induce a hero fold from better?

call

Call here and you have 12% chance to improve probably 10% of it good. Fold river if overcard A,K comes or 8 and he bets again smaller than all in or if he bets to put you all in unimproved anyway. I think he wont be bluffing river after such turn call. I think a call is needed here because although you risk a lot, you kill his bluffs over 80% by calling and it looks very strong for you. The small 10% of Q,J river leads often to getting paid nice by AA,KK,KQ(J),AQ(J),Q9(J) and also kills all his bluff capacity. Given the pot generated by your 5.8k call is now 21.6 k with 8.2k back and that he could have taken this line with many hands you need to be brave and go for the often tragic call and fold river line that is ultra disciplined and sometimes gets you to fold the best hand but not before it makes his strategy exploitable on avg if he bets this way without having it for 3 streets.

Also if all is looking to leave and the opponent here looks very focused in playing at such late before break moment, can it be that he has a big hand like KK-AA? I mean we all must be focused when we play even close to break or whatever regardless of starting hand quality but maybe a more than casual focus preflop might be a tell here given the incoming stress relief moment for all players even those still active. You know what i mean like i dont care if the world is burning kind of moment. Probably a good player still avoids that but who knows since you mentioned it.

Also his betting so far is very similar to how one would bet QQ-AA, AQ,99 (QQ,99 much less likely but still a good player bets it at flop especially when one checks).

Also your hesitation of 20 sec to call the flop bet is making you look weak often (not on a draw also often usually a weaker kicker Q or smaller pair? This then may hint villain to bet his less than Q pair hands too that way at turn confident that the turn card didnt improve you)

nah to merge your talking ranges.

calling might be better, can't see much of a difference just if a king peels off on the river maybe fold lol.

was kidding about the talk obv lol as stinger knows he's not a fish n wouldn't fold KQ here no matter what you did.

cant ever fold here esp with the break coming up.....im sure his barreling frequency is very high on the turn when your capped at like KQ and even considering folding qj here.

I'd mix it up between 3b and call pre, even if Stinger is a sicko his hands are still a bit tied with stacks and it's hard for him to 4ball light (if you had a bit more I'd go for 3b 5b but with these exact stacks I think it's pretty good to 3b/fold a lot. With your exact hand tho if there aren't many squeezey type of guys behind flat can easily be as good.

Postflop I'd play flop the same, and on the turn after his bet I'd quickly throw in 3800. When corrected by the dealer I'd pretend it's a tough decision and fake reluctantly throw in the rest --> snap river

Assume you are kidding and not really an angle shooting scumbag?