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calling bets/3bets with QQ- or hitting top Pair calling bets/3bets with QQ- or hitting top Pair

01-30-2024 , 02:39 PM
How do you play as preflop caller in a 3bet pot with QQ or worse or toppair KQ or worse.

It feels like i am always up against AA/KK or QQ with JJ- and burning half of my Stack calling 2 barrels.

Should you just set mine IP and give up even with QQ as overpair against barrels or even cbets?
And with e.g. KQs top pair just hope for two pair/ big draws or better and fold everything else against bets even with top pair?

The same question in a single raised pot as caller.

e.g. i called a bet from utg and hit top pair with AJs and was calling down 2 barrels against QQ, it just felt wrong.
Should i give up without a draw or call one street ?

Last edited by philsor; 01-30-2024 at 03:09 PM.
calling bets/3bets with QQ- or hitting top Pair Quote
01-30-2024 , 03:51 PM
As always, it depends. First of all, why are you calling preflop with QQ? That should be a four bet. If villain 5bet shoves, you have a decision to make - that range is usually AA, KK, AKs and maybe AKo - if that is villains range it’s probably close depending on your 4 bet sizing. The point is you eliminate most of what you are talking about with QQ by taking this line; you either establish that villain is not likely to have a bigger overpair (otherwise they would shove pre) or you just get it in pre and hope for the best.

As for top pair hands with starting hands like KQ or AJ, it is a judgement call. Is villain aggressive when he opens? Does he cbet most of the time? If so he may be cbetting too much and a check raise could be a good option. He may have you beat this hand, at that will become apparent based on his reaction to your line, but overall you will profit vs villains who just range cbet by check raising their cbets light.

Is villain a nit who only bets when he has something and plays generally ABC poker? Then maybe a call otf with the intent to fold a later street if you don’t improve is a better option. Again it all depends on villain, bet size, presence or absence of other opponents, etc. There is no one easy answer.
calling bets/3bets with QQ- or hitting top Pair Quote
01-31-2024 , 11:15 AM
I agree with @stremba70. Also, it would be more informative to analyze specific hands when you were with QQ and found yourself in a difficult situation.
calling bets/3bets with QQ- or hitting top Pair Quote

      
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