The Poker Quiz

You are playing a No-Limit cash game at loose, yet very talented table. A player under the gun raises to 3.5 times the Big Blind. A player in second position re-raises to 8.5BB. Action is fold to you in the Big Blind holding A Q . You know these players are very skilled, and while you have a health stack, they both have you covered.

The Solution

Fold.
At a talented table, you should be aware that a UTG raise usually indicates an above average hand. You should also be equally concerned with an early position player re-raising. If you choose re-raise when action gets folded around, you may be called by a stronger holding than AQ off, and be out of position for the remainder of the hand. Or if you call, you could get re-raised and be forced to muck your hand, as there is no reason to get involved with a coin flip or worse in this spot. With only 1BB invested, folding is your best option.