Putting your opponent on AA-QQ, AK

Scenario 1:

Suppose you're dealt pocket Jacks in MP/LP, $50NL, you buy in for the max. 2 limpers, you raise to $1.50. folded to big blind and he raises to $4.50. Villain's stack is double of yours: $100. limpers folds. You put him on Big connectors like AK-AQ, maybe big pocket pairs. You've just sat down, no reads on the players on the table yet.

1. Would you call?


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For those of you who call.

The flop: ($10.75)


Villain bets $6.50.

What would you put the Villain on? In this case, with your medium pocket pair, with a harmless looking flop:

2. Do you re-raise to find out more information? Fold?
3. What do you put the villain on if you raise and he goes over the top?

Sounds like a newbie question, but I'm just wondering how best to play middle pocket pairs like 1010, JJ.


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Scenario 2:

Now you're in the Villain's position. you're $100 on a $50NL table.

You're dealt AKs. New player raises to $1.50. You reraise to $4.50 in the big blind.

1. Is it a good idea to reraise with AKs, with someone showing strength in the MP/LP? You're OOP. Is it a better idea to smooth call, since you'll only hit the flop 1/3 of the time?


The flop: ($10.75)


You missed the flop.

2.Do you c-bet? send a probe bet to find out where you stand? Check or C/R(fancy play, I know) to represent AA-KK?

Suppose you c-bet $6.50. After a thinking for a while, Villain reraises to $20.

3. What's you play? Fold? Or call?

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I'm have problems playing Medium pocket pairs and AK sometimes, hence the questions.

FWIW, in scenerio 1, I'd reraise and fold to a re-re-raise. Scenerio 2, I'd c-bet 2/3 of the time and fold to a re-raise to protect my stack.

With the medium pocket pairs, sometimes I find it hard to reraise simply because most people play AK-AQ like big pocket pairs. It's hard to put them on a hand sometimes. I guess I'd reraise most of the time to find out more. I don't know if I'm playing them right, but holler if you have some advice.

Not long ago I read a pro's comment that said something along the lines that the reason people have difficulty playing JJ is that it is usually a betting hand pre-flop and a drawing hand after the flop.

That being said, when someone says "he just sat down/I just sat down/we don't know anything about him" my initial reaction in a ring game is to be very cautious, since JJ and it's ilk are the hands where successful play is HIGHLY dependent on having some kind of read on the villain.

I'm very unlikely to go to war in a cash game holding an overpair or a draw with someone I know nothing about! What's the point of taking EXTRA risk when a better opportunity IS going to come along, and probably pretty soon?

firstly, try to observe the table before you join...

in this case, villain might push a continuation bet from AK etc., most likely he has a pair... could be 77, 55... or monsters... call here and hope for a set at the turn, then evaluate his move (assuming he has position)

much depends on if his next bet is pot sized or larger after the turn... THAT is where your decision should be made... after determining who the turn card benefits... I would be more comfortable with 55, 77, 99 or 1010 here than JJ.

1. Fold em, or push em. Do not call. FIrst thought here is he is trying to set the stage for dominating you later, and will push on you regardless. At worst he will still have his first buyin.

2. AK vs the MP/LP raise deserves a test. Especially when you are the big stack. Personally I would just call to see the flop, but your scenario made me think it through and may have shown me the light that almost requires attempting to end the pot right then and there. OOP play for me these days means I have to be ready to give it up. THe feeler bet if seen as that is toast to a Lag player.

I have folded JJ after a reraise and lived to fight another day. I have called JJ after a reraise and died on the spot.

With no reads, why put the guy on anything? You assume reasonably standard play from a chip leader, who could have aquired that stack in any number of ways.

Way to early to be testy.

IMHO

Scenario 1:

Suppose you're dealt pocket Jacks in MP/LP, $50NL, you buy in for the max. 2 limpers, you raise to $1.50. folded to big blind and he raises to $4.50. Villain's stack is double of yours: $100. limpers folds. You put him on Big connectors like AK-AQ, maybe big pocket pairs. You've just sat down, no reads on the players on the table yet.

1. Would you call?
I would re-raise to about $10. If he re-reraises dump 'em. If he just calls he's probably holding AK, maybe AQ. You've defined your hand and his.


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For those of you who call.

The flop: ($10.75)


Villain bets $6.50.

What would you put the Villain on? In this case, with your medium pocket pair, with a harmless looking flop:

2. Do you re-raise to find out more information? Fold?
Yes. Unfortunately, this information will be more expensive now than if you had made a meaningfull reraise preflop.
3. What do you put the villain on if you raise and he goes over the top?
Something better than Jacks.

Sounds like a newbie question, but I'm just wondering how best to play middle pocket pairs like 1010, JJ.


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Scenario 2:

Now you're in the Villain's position. you're $100 on a $50NL table.

You're dealt AKs. New player raises to $1.50. You reraise to $4.50 in the big blind.

1. Is it a good idea to reraise with AKs, with someone showing strength in the MP/LP? You're OOP. Is it a better idea to smooth call, since you'll only hit the flop 1/3 of the time?

He'll only hit the flop that often too. Raise and continue regarless of the flop.


The flop: ($10.75)


You missed the flop.

2.Do you c-bet? send a probe bet to find out where you stand? Check or C/R(fancy play, I know) to represent AA-KK?

Don't checkraise. You're right. Much too fancy. A rag flop like that probably missed him too. Don't forget, when the flop misses both of you, the high card IS the best hand. Betting out is not a bluff, but you need to find out. Bet 1/2 to 2/3 the pot. If he flat calls, fire another 1/2 pot round.

Suppose you c-bet $6.50. After a thinking for a while, Villain reraises to $20.

3. What's you play? Fold? Or call?

I would fold. Without any read on your opponent, a reraise is almost never a bluff, he has something so any reraise by you would be a bluff. Again, without a read on your opponent I wouldn't try anything slick.