Ok, I'm still steaming from a beat I took last night near the bubble of a $300 multi day live MTT. We enter final day as chip leader, and run card dead for four hours stealing blinds to chip up to 200k but now top third of stacks. 10 away from the bubble at 20, typical 101-200 runner payout with $14k up top and real money starting at FT level. As mentioned, we've been stealing but mostly folding to PF 3 bets. Villain is a TAG who has shown ability to make a move when necessary.

Blinds 3000/6000 with 500 ante 10 handed. We are sb with around 35 bb and villain is lp with around 18 bb. Cards fly and we find AcQh and see table fold to V1, he raises to 15k. Folds continue to us, we tank a 3 bet and end up flatting. We go to the flop heads up. Flop comes Q 9 3 all clubs. V1 range at this point includes air, TP with us, flush, sets, over/under pairs, and maaaaybe an up/down draw. We lead out 25k, hoping for a fold or shove, and ok with either considering the redraw. He does indeed shove, eliciting a snap call from us. Cards are tabled, revealing we are waaaaay ahead of his KcQs. Turn of course comes Kd with a meaningless 5s on the river, gg. We're now sitting at 10bb and end up falling a little tilted A8 <99 four from the bubble.

I know at 9:1 it was in hindsight a good move, but I'd like feedback on the play here and what if anything I could have done better. Thanks.

tough beat. i will usually 3bet this preflop when im out of position as you were

I almost did, but the tank led me away from that because of what I perceived as a pretty tight PF range which gives us mostly flips, a few hands ahead (KQ, AJ with maybe A10/9/8, QJ, J10) and a few where we're dominated by AK, QQ, KK, or AA.

Hindsight, you're right and we probably get his 15k.

Why is his opening range from LP "pretty tight"? What exact seat was he in? HJ vs. BTN makes a big difference.

Either way, this seems like a pretty clear 3b/call (I'd make it 37k). Then again, I haven't played teh live pokers in a while, and I know it's pretty LOL as far as how tight/passive people play.

As played, why on earth would you donk this flop? You have his range in jail and he's rarely checking back otf on this stack size.

I'd been seated with him for around 2 hours to that point, and had seen only 2 raises out of him pre, with aggressive play post flop. One was early pisition, the other on the button. In this case he was in the HJ. I like the 3b/call normally, but was trying to avoid major confrontation with the AQ here already set up well for a final table run.

What's the detail behind 37k?

lol, on second thought I'd go 35k, I miscalculated his stack. Reason for specificity is just trying to find the point at which he can think he has FE with a 4b jam, but also such that our 3b isn't too small for him to just flat and see three with spr of about 1, which would be pretty awkward if we airball flop.

3b pre. You're hand is a monster against an lp open when 18 BB's effective.

Seems to be the consensus here... I guess I fell victim to trying to avoid murky waters and cruise to the FT. Thanks for the input and enhancing the learning experience. I'm on the felt right now running cash, trying to wash the foul taste out of my mouth!