[edge]

Preflop is kind of weird since it's a steal situation. My raise means any pair, any suited connector, any suited Broadway, etc. His reraise means a better hand than 99 most of the time, but it doesn't mean strictly QQ+, so I don't feel that calling just to catch a set would not be profitable. I could always call and try to outplay him, but that will often cost me my stack (especially how I'm running lately). I decided to turn 99 into 22 (which is essentially the same against a big pair) and pop it back. I expect him to fold JJ/TT here; possibly even QQ. I think I'm generally perceived as tight and straightforward preflop. The plan, again, was to avoid putting any more money in unless I hit a set, because to call my 3-raise, he will almost always have KK/AA/AKs--maybe QQ.

Although there's a good chance I'm ahead on the flop (AA, AKs non-spades), I can't bet because I won't get action from a hand I beat. Look at it from his perspective: he reraises AA, gets 3-raised, and calls to c/r all-in on the flop. I probably have KK or QQ and maybe AK. Flop KQx, now he beats only AK, and why would I bet AK that loses to every hand?

I agree that the turn is awful though. I realize that most posters will say to jam it and not to worry about a higher set, but I just hate drawing dead, and if I'm not dead, he has a quarter of the deck to win. Maybe someone will come in and math this?

It's funny though; a day or two before, I was putting myself in trouble by reraising 99-JJ and realized they're probably the worst hands to mess around with preflop, so I decided not to do that again. Obviously I didn't learn.