AQ second level $16.

[LeadbellyDan]

Villain is a big winner called The_Venitian. I felt I played this hand badly. How do I lose less / win more here??

PokerStars Tournament, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t1890)
UTG+1 (t1670)
MP1 (t740)
MP2 (t1230)
MP3 (t1340)
CO (t1490)
Button (t2180)
SB (t1460)
Hero (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is in BB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
<font color="gray">UTG folds</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, MP1 calls t30, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, <font color="red">MP3 raises to t120</font>, <font color="gray">CO folds</font>, <font color="gray">Button folds</font>, <font color="gray">SB folds</font>, Hero calls t90, MP1 calls t90

Flop: (t375) 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, <font color="red">MP3 bets t270</font>, Hero calls t270, MP1 calls t270

Turn: (t1185) T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, <font color="red">MP3 bets t950 (All-in)</font>, <font color="gray">Hero folds</font>, MP1 calls t350 (All-in)

River: (t2485) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

[Kevin8423]

I fold this pf.

As played I just raise or shove the flop, you aren't really gonna get information here to know if you are ahead unless he stops betting so you might as well just shove since you connected with your hand. Problem is its very likely he has AK here, thats why I like to not play AQ for a big raise early on.

Edit: By playing AQ for this raise you are basically committing yourself on a good Q high flop or A flop. I'm saying shove because theres no reason to play this hand if you aren't willing to get in with this type of flop. I think you either need to fold pf, or get it in when you hit. After calling the flop you should never be folding pretty much regardless of what the turn brings.

[PattdownManiac]

Playing AQ out of position in a raised pot in the early levels vs. The Venitian is not really up there on the list of things I set out to accomplish in a sng. So he had AK right?

[LeadbellyDan]

Thanks Kevin. Good advice. For an SnG noob like me it feels weird just mucking AQs but yea it's probably best here.
BTW he showed AsQs to win the pot.

[Velocity]

mucking AQ vs a good player's early level raise is a good plan