Here is a hand from a few weeks ago which I saved for later analysis - it is from a WSOP Step #1 on Stars where the field is truly terrible!

No reads to speak of - I was multi-tabling at the time.... will break it out piece by piece for discussion (the hand has several dramatic twists as we go along)

Part A - I'm on the button with KQs

PokerStars Game #16251564835: Tournament #82284195, $7.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/03/25 - 20:51:48 (ET)
Table '82284195 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Grabovsky (1615 in chips)
Seat 2: jsereef (1550 in chips)
Seat 4: Flozy1704 (860 in chips)
Seat 5: MERCURY77 (2620 in chips)
Seat 6: MKSteel12 (1450 in chips)
Seat 7: semikkey84 (1450 in chips)
Seat 8: InSidi0uS4 (1445 in chips)
Seat 9: LDO2007 (2510 in chips)
jsereef: posts small blind 15
Flozy1704: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Grabovsky [Ks Qs]
MERCURY77: folds
MKSteel12: calls 30
semikkey84: folds
InSidi0uS4: folds
LDO2007: calls 30
Grabovsky ?????

So, do you raise KQs here or flat call?? What are the reasons behind your choice - pros / cons etc??

The flop to follow after a couple of replies!

Cheers, Mark

I haven't played these particular SNGs, but at the $5 SNGs on FTP i tend to call with a hand like this after two limpers. The blinds are low and guys at this level love to call once they already have entered the pot. It's hard to thin the field once the limping cascade has begun unless you raise more than you probably should for KQs. A big suited connector like KQs plays decent in a multiway pot and even if you only hit top pair your hand is probably best against all the limpers.

Well Mark, doesn't look like anyone else wants to comment on this hand. Maybe give us the flop and we'll get some discussion.

Somebody else weigh in on this hand, give Mark a reason to raise it!

I tend to raise here. You have position being on the button which helps.

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Kickboyswoop

Sorry for the delay - I did indeed call (raising did not seem+ev to me here since with the standard of opponents we get 5 callers in a raised pot... position all very nice, but since these types are likely to call overbets we can always look to build a pot after we hit.... and fold if we miss)

Grabovsky: calls 30
jsereef: calls 15
Flozy1704: checks
*** FLOP *** [Js Qd Kh]
jsereef: checks
Flozy1704: checks
MKSteel12: checks
LDO2007: bets 60

So the flop gives me a vulnerable 2 pair - my opponents are terrible and the guy to my immediate left bets 60 chips into a pot of 150.... what is your move here??

Cheers, Mark

Smooth Call.... This play gives you 3 advantages...

1) Playing it safe if he did flop the flop of his dreams.

2) Slow play if so happens you turn or river a full house

3) if he does not have top 2 pair beet do not let him over play a worse 2 pair and make you fold.

IE. - If he has QJ and thinks he is good he will over play it protecting himself from the Strait and you are forced to respect his play. I still liked raising 5x preflop to define the hand more.

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Kickboyswoop

I like kickboy's reasoning above. Players at this level will play KJ or QJ like the nuts here and could make an overbet that causes you to fold. I'm for the call and see what the next card brings, a ten would shut us down but hopefully you fill up!

Also like the reasoning... however, the problem with smooth calling here is that there are 3 other players in the pot still to act.

If we assume that there are a collection of high cards out there absolutely hate a lot of turn cards.... 9, 10 & A specifically but also a J. Some outs have to be in opponents hands at this point - but lets say there are 12 of the 15 cards we hate still in the deck... could be ugly.

I thought about this for a few seconds and then elected to raise the pot to shut out those players and define my hand - reasoning that draws call here and a made straight raises.

Grabovsky: raises 150 to 210
jsereef: folds
Flozy1704: folds
MKSteel12: folds
LDO2007: calls 150
*** TURN *** [Js Qd Kh] [Jc]
LDO2007: checks

Well well, 1 caller and a jack on the turn... jikes!

He checks... your thoughts on my logic for raising + what to do next??

(will post the rest shortly!)

Cheers, Mark

Check Call anything that is under a certain bet. IF too big get out of dodge

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Kickboyswoop

Good plan!

Hated that card as it makes up so much of villans range that is not already beating me... would indeed have folded to any reasonable bet (200+... hard to say).

So - happy to check behind and then a slightly different problem on the river!

Grabovsky: checks
*** RIVER *** [Js Qd Kh Jc] [Qc]
LDO2007: bets 210

I fill up and my opponent bets around half the pot... I'd like to extract some value those times my opponent has a J or Q I am beating. So, how much to bet??

As a separate question, what if the river had been a blank - a small card - and my opponent had checked to me - bet for value here or check behind for a showdown? how does the fact that this is a step SNG rather than a cash game affect your answer??

Will post the las piece tomorrow - late already here in Europe!

Cheers, Mark