Here's a hand at 5NL I decided to flat from the SB w QQ. UTG raises and gets 2 calls. I feel if I 3bet to say 15bb, I might only get action from JJ+ and AK against a tightish villain UTG. I will likely fold to a 4bet facing a value range of AK or KK+. If I 3bet smaller, it's going to be a huge multiway pot out of position. Is flatting OK here? I feel I should raise.


888 Poker - $0.05 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (SB): 120.8 BB
BB: 137.4 BB (VPIP: 41.18, PFR: 41.18, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
UTG: 101.4 BB (VPIP: 16.79, PFR: 9.49, 3Bet Preflop: 7.32, Hands: 138)
UTG+1: 93.8 BB (VPIP: 23.53, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 7.69, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
MP+1: 98.6 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
CO: 67 BB (VPIP: 43.75, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 5.00, Hands: 48)
BTN: 111 BB (VPIP: 4.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has Q Q

UTG raises to 3 BB, UTG+1 calls 3 BB, fold, MP+1 calls 3 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 2.6 BB, fold

I think you should raise.
If UTG is super strong then he'll 4bet and you can fold.
However if he flats then his range is more likely to consist of AK and 88-JJ and you can play on accordingly.
There are a few advantages for raising here:

1. UTG+1 looks fishy and will likely call with all sorts of crap. He's the real target here.
2. By flatting multi-way your hand becomes very tricky to play when your OOP relative to everyone else. Imagine seeing a 789 two-tone flop for example or even an AK5 flop.
3. You gain the initiative and thin the field allowing a larger chance of a successful c-bet bluff, on say an Axx board if only UTG or MP+1 calls the 3bet.

Thanks Brussels Sprout.

That makes a lot of sense. I just find it strange in 5NL cash how tight most regs are to 3bets and 4bets. Raising seems like the play though

Probably 3b and get action from and maybe 66, 77, AQ. JJ and AK could 4b. In my experience, people don't like to fold to 3bs @ 5NL--nit and fish alike, imo. MP+1 might also be something to be concerned about in reopening the action, so I can follow your logic.
Playing your QQ for set value and overpair value, I think, is okay to do here and there. If you think this is a good spot, then I'd say it's not a leak as long as it's not your go to.