Hmm - You Lost the hand fromm the start.
Yup, with AA, you and 2 others in the pot you're around only 50% to win usually.
You want no more than 2 other callers, but I'd recommend getting some chips in an attempt to get a heads up. If it fails and everyone folds you at least don't end up in a bad position like you did. Especially going early. With that many in there you're going to lose. To be honest from that position with that many in, I'd rather have some connector than AA. That way its easier to walk away and you stand a chance of winning. AA wont work. Im not saying I prefer the cards more, just that your position is not good at all with your holding.
In a cash game, depending on the table etc Id raise more that 3x if there that many callers. It takes one to come along and the rest are spying the money in there. If this guy raised 12 on the button or whatever, with those limpers before him I'd have done a very big raise. Pos around 45-50-55 even. I just dont think 3x is good enough in the SB - its FAR too risky from what went on before you called! This is too much of a raise you think? Nope not really imo. People at these tables know the value of the odds you're offering and are usually not shy to put some $$ in there. If they call or whatever, whether their play is correct or not doesn't really make a difference to me. What matter is I want them gone! The most crucial thing here for me is not to go broke. You just can't afford your position to go wrong because you'll lose a LOT of money.
Also after the flop, because you called with AA in the position, I think I would really check to the pre-flop raiser. Why?
1. Because your position is the pits.
2. Because your position is the pits.
3. Because your position is the pits.
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10.Because your position is the pits.
Do you get it?! But also:
1. Because he's expected to C bet anyway.
2. Because there's a chance someone will bet and you could check raise if you believe you are still strong. Btw if someone called the check raise, I'd be getting seriously uncomfortable.
3. Because I want to see what everyone does before I act on this. Since the pot is a decent size, you're going to be building a bit pot with a hand thats easily beat with 3 others.
The way you played the hand, I think you have to be prepared to throw it. This sound crazy? What with AA and that flop???? Am I mad???? What drugs am I taking, right?
Well imo no. You have no idea where you stand with all these players hanging around, and a pot thats going to get scary.
I'd much rather like to be in a position where I can chip away at a couple of pots and try to control the situation better. If I'm getting money in this pot its before the turn and the river I can tell you that 100%
I know the flop looks 'ok' etc but from my experience people in these games don't play like the books you read. They like to flat call what I consider a decent amount of money in position.
Because you didnt raise I suspect he probably didnt even consider putting you on AA and thought you hit your K or something and he could get you off the hand. Assuming you did hit your K your kicker was probably not that good either - because you didnt raise!
Also I know this isnt the case here, because his play was slighty moronic and he probably has been watching some Gus Hansen video or something, but the call would have at least slowed me down a bit. This is probably what he was expecting at this stage but got lucky anyway.
Anyway, regardless if you agree with me or not, the FUNDAMENTAL key to it all was not to put yourself in this position in the 1st place.