I think the major point of contention is whether or not to play the hand at all. My usual haunt these days are the $50 and occasional $100 SNGs, but as many of us have, I spent a bunch of time on lower levels before moving up the ladder. On the $10+1 SNGs, the quality of players is often fairly miserable, so I wouldn't read too much into a $125 raise in EP. In fact, more often I would put this guy on anything from a mid-pair on up. Given this is a $10 and the bet was less than 10% of the stacks, I see no problem playing this hand. Even at the $50s you'll see some weak players make moves like this, so at $10s, I'd practically guarantee it!!

On the flop, you're right to notice that the bet size was on the small-ish side. I'd still be thinking mid-pairs and MAYBE a queen. He could also have a weak K at this point I guess, but with a rainbow flop, whether it's suited or not is currently meaningless and your flop raise should give him cause for concern. When he just calls you on the flop rather than re-raise, I more often than not will take that as a sign of weakness (at the $10 level) since most players with a really good hand at this level will try and get all your chips in one fell swoop rather than suck you in to doing the betting.

Once he checks the turn, I have to agree with the earlier poster, you need to put in another reasonable bet and maybe even push all-in (this latter approach is probably better since it applies the maximum pressure and doesn't give your opponent any option other than fold or call prior to seeing the river card which may or may not help him). I'm guessing that more often than not, you're in better shape with MPTK in this spot.

Of course, like I said, on a higher limit table, that intial $125 means something entirely different. On a $10+1, I put myself in a great spot if I've read this correctly and if not, well then, I'm slightly unlucky and I go find another $10 to play. In a lot of cases, I'd rather try and build a stack early than wait until later when the blinds knock me out in 4th or 5th.

calling a large raise with AQ is a -ev play. At best you are in a coinflip, at worst you are dominated. If you really think a guy is raising with crap you need to come over the top. By just calling you have no idea what you are up against, and can lose a lot of money if an Ace hits.

For whatever it's worth---I call this all day as well...BUT I also play it a little like a medium pr...with an overcard I am outta here in a SNG...always depends on position etc, but it's similar to slow-playing AA or KK in EP...you have to be willing to throw it away with any heat at all
My 2 cents...
B

Very true - playing AQ against a big raise is -ev... but as in most poker situations - it all depends... and on the $10 tables - i would guess that most times it is not -ev at all!!

I agree with possibly raising though... I'm also not throwing it away AUTOMATICALLY with a king on the flop...

Of course, like I said - I'd probably toss that hand in the muck on the $50 and $100 tables... plus I did forget to mention I play in the aquarium called Party Poker, so $10 tables elsewhere probably play a little different

Well it resulted in you having to put a significant portion of your stack at risk. By calling a raise of that size you are committing too many of your chips too early. You have no money in this pot facing this raise and there are too many hands that dominate you. I have played a lot of 10 sng's, and the strategy that works best for me is to value my chips more early on. I almost never bluff in these early rounds, almost never play small aces, and fold anything but premium hands against a big raise.

Sure the guy *might* be raising you with crap, but he also might have AK. You have 0 read on this guy, so give him the benefit of the doubt. If he is a crappy player, you will know soon enough. AQ is just that that good a hand, especially early on.