I've just been railed in another sit-n-go, and an earlier hand lead to my early demise, so I'm hoping you clever people could help figure out if I could have handled this better, or wether I was variance punching bag... the same opponent got lucky on my final hand on the river to bust me, so this hand now stings even more.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1781508calling a raise with QT suited or otherwise is definitely not something I would usually do, but the raise came from a player who had begun to raise the minimum frequently in this position and I was certain my hand was good enough here. I thought about coming over the top to try and take the pot there, but with two short stacks hanging on close to the bubble I didn't want to put too many chips on the line with such a holding, so I decided to just see a flop.
I hit second pair and bet out to see where I'm at. I expected my opponent to fold at this point, and was surprised by the call, this made me think he held the jack or at least a weaker ten, he was certainly capable of calling all the way with second pair in this spot, AT also went from my head, but I was more sure of him holding a weak jack or a weaker ten.
The turn was a dangerous card, as it gave me two pair but could have easily made a flush or straight. I would have preferred to check it down here, but I didn't want to give my opponent an opportunity to bluff at me on the river by showing weakness here, after the call doesn't surprise me as much as the call on the flop, at worst I was looking at a weak flush, or high flush and I'm sure he would have re-raised here, and I would have reluctantly let it go (I think), and he could still be hanging on with top pair, not something I would do, but I was aware he was very capable of it.
The river brings a blank, but I attempt to check it down, he leads into me. I hate to call here, but the pot was very big at this point, and my hand wad good enough that this wasn't any easy decision against this player in this spot. I had taken huge pots from other players at the table doing similar on the end raises with weak hands when I checked it down, which may have also influenced my call.
If he showed a flush, well thats okay, if he showed top two that would be a bit better, but showing his hand, twisted the knife, to hang on with that sh-t and drag the pot hurt.
anyways, I'm looking for some thoughts on the hand please ?