NLHE ring table hand #2

This time I push back. Unlike Proplayer, volk merely reraised as opposed to risking his entire stack, indicating a strong top pair. Don't slow play this hand. You have got 2 top and bottom pair, but if he pairs his kicker your beat. He also has a chance of pairing the queen or the turn card, probably counterfeiting your 6's and again winning with his kicker. As Bill Hallorian said in NLHE ring table hand #1, top pair gives implied odds, they don't get them. You've got him covered, put him all in. I'm willing to bet he calls. I hope this doesn't sound inconsistent with my last reply. I don't think it is.

Looks very like a big ace raise to me. The dilemma here is withir its AK or AQ, certainly not AA or KK.

I think its a push here as well. Without a doubt.

Yes, I have to agree with the two gentlemen before me. I am a little worried about that Q on the flop though. But, I do think pushing is the answer. His weak raise probably indicates that he does not hold the Q. Like our friend Dorkus says, "Minimum raises are bad, mmm-Kay?"

Do I get my cajones back?

I'll Air-Mail them to you post-haste!

66 is also a possibility but very unlikely...i think the way you describe him he'd probably limp instead of raise with it.
i guess i'd push here too
now that you mention it i'd be a little concerned about the AQ but you cant lay this monster down

I'm not being deliberately antagonistic, honest i'm not, but i'm switching too! The last one was a definate call (or raise, it was pretty much the same thing) in my opinion - his opponents most likely holding was a pair of jacks and JL had Kings. Also he had v.good pot odds, a small liability ($19) and was in the BB disguising the strength of his hand.

Here, like TB i'd narrow his opponents cards down to just AK and AQ. You're beat (or at least well behind) with AQ, pot odds are low, and your liability is much greater ($56.85). I'd call - he's made it cheap for you to stay in the hand and see what he does next, I dont think he'll fold to an all-in, so by calling you're giving yourself an extra opportunity to get out if you really dont like the look of the board.

And I dont agree with Juicee really (sorry!). That small bet looks like a trap to me (that's certainly how i'd play AQ here).

I dont care if this goes against what everyone else says (!), but if you're going all-in anyway, why not see an extra card and get a bit better feel for the hand? The all-in move is only better if you think opponent is going to fold, and his re-raising into an A flop surely suggests he wont.

I've got caught so many times with two pair. Its never as great as it seems. Also as one of them is the bottom pair its very vulnerable if ya ask me. The turn and river could bring all sorts of horrible cards. Knocking you right out of it. I say call and see what the turn is. And if its a low card, with no help to him hopefully, push right back at him.

But I still would not rule him out of having trips!! unlikely though, but god damn it ya just never know.

i like robs idea
you both still have plenty of cash on the table and a call would give you a chance to throw your hand or push if you got a good read on him on fourth

Well, there's no chance that he bets back at you like this without at least the Ace. And his confident pot sized reraise says he 's pretty sure he's got the best kicker. Only AK,AJ or Ace + a draw fit. AA also fits, but the fact that 2 Aces are already accounted for make it unlikely. I'm not buying the pocket Queens, the preflop raise was way too weak for that. I would have expected a bigger reraise on the flop for both QQ and AQ. My feeling is that with your own Full House draw,5:1 with 2 cards to come. Your at least a 3:1 favorite. I still push all-in and hold my breath.

ooh thats another option - maybe hes got a RF draw
many many outs for that....but i think the betting's a little too strong for that

Now that I look at this again, I think your right JL. To come back over the top like that after such a small bet, (less than 1/2 the pot?) could indicate something else. I still think that AK is a strong possibility, but I've got to give more consideration to AQ.

Why don't you hold on to those cojones a bit longer JQ.

Sorry JL, I didn't answer because I thought we were going round in circles, and this is such a non-event subject, but i'll try and clarify argument again.

Firstly, once you've made the decision to go all-in, there are 2 ways to get your money in - up front (all-in), or behind (calling down). The end results the same - all of your chips are in, and all of his are in - whoever has the best hand wins.

In this scenario, what could rvolk have? answer, anything!

a) he may have total rags, and be trying to push you off the pot thinking you'll fold to sustained action (who's got the biggest balls?). You have to think this is unlikely, but if he's done it to you before?

b) a smaller pair, and be trying to guage whether you really have got a pair of aces. V. risky play if he was, bearing in mind the flop and your re-raise.

c) a pair of aces and weak kicker. May have, judged on his weak re-reraise, but that's a bad play from him.

d) A monster hand - AA, QQ, 66.

e) A flush / straight draw. Unlikely - why would he re-raise you and not see another card as cheaply as possible?

f) A strong hand that he thinks is a winner (i.e AK or AQ) - the most likely holding in my opinion. He had the opportunity to check behind you, but he raised your raise. In my opinion he wants you to go all-in, and if you do, he'll click call in a nano-second (and groan if he's got AK).

So what are the pros and cons of calling (with a view to attacking post turn) over pushing all-in.

1) If he's got a) he may try another stab (and you can then go over the top).
2) If he's got AQ and diamond flops, he may fold to all-in (unlikely i know but...).
3) If a K flops, you can then give serious consideration to folding (I wouldn't, but what cards could he still be betting with?).
4) You end up all-in, you win with 2 pair over his AK - he's thinking "why the hell didn't he go all-in with A6?". You know you were in reality all-in from the outset, but you've put doubts into an astute players mind.

Disadvantages of calling (and giving free card)

5) He was chasing flush or straight and he hits (if he's stupid enough to play draw like that, he'll probably call all-in anyway).

6) He had Ace and weak kicker (10 down to 7), which he would have folded to all-in, but hits kicker on turn.

All these are pretty unlikely, but it's weighing up 1,2,3 & 4 against 5 and 6. As I said, in reality it's pretty much a non-argument as you both end up with all your chips in - it's just a bit of "tweaking" really (and I would call myself knowing i was 99% sure to go all-in post turn).

Just a quick side question JL. You called a raise with A-6o. What sort of flop were you hoping for ? What was your criteria for continuing in the hand once you seen a flop. Two pair or better ? If thats the case id push no doubt.

Nice post Rob........ rep +

i have to agree with rob's calling option
like he said if he's got a weaker hand, why push him off?
also if he's bluffing or betting at a weaker hand then why not let him bet into you on the turn and see what kind of fell you get from him then and decide to push/fold then
though this reraise does smell really fishy to me

Just to clarify my post - a fold post turn is highly unlikely, once you've committed to the pot with a call, you're all-in - with one possible exception, the King.

Time to wrap it up JL. Let's see the rest of the hand.

I don't see what more you could ask for when playing A6os. I say push right there. IMO, don't call a preflop raise with A6os in the first place.

isnt any ace a big ace short handed?

aces become more valuable shorthanded, if that's what you mean
but you really can't call A6 or A9 a big ace