$4 NLHE Full Ring: AA: Good way to play?

nabmom

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Lots can be said about lack of a FR (5 players at a FR table), not playing with a full BI, etc. My question, however, is just about the basic thinking of how my betting was during this hand and if my thought process was correct.

It's an hand I played early on (about a week into playing for $ at AP). No reads about other players; my thinking was something like:

I have AA (yipee!)

Preflop: UTG I raise 3xBB and get 3 callers.

Flop: I make my set (more yipee). Blinds both check and since the board has 2 cards to a flush I raise a pot-sized as a strategy to make anyone calling with a draw to be calling without proper odds. Get one caller.

Turn: Puts 3 to a straight on the board along with the flush draw. Again I make a pot-sized bet and get called. At this point I'm worried that I'm beat. *

River: Flush draw hits. My fear of the flush get to me and I make a tiny bet. That small because I'm afraid that I'm beat. Don't know what I would have done if he'd raised/shoved. Probably folded.

Should I have bet much larger? Played the other streets differently?

What do you think, wise cash-game hand analysts?

* Of course, 8 cards left for a flush, I have the A and the K is on the board so their possible draw isn't even to the nuts.

Cereus Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 5 players

Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

Hero (UTG): $1.32
CO: $2.94
BTN: $2.08
SB: $2.06
BB: $0.40

SB posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero has A A

Hero raises to $0.06, CO calls $0.06, fold, SB calls $0.05, BB calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.24, 4 players) K 3 A
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $0.24, CO calls $0.24, fold, fold

Turn: ($0.72, 2 players) 2
Hero bets $0.72, CO calls $0.72

River: ($2.16, 2 players) Q
Hero bets $0.30, CO calls $0.30
 
TylerN

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how would u of bet larger on the river? Weren't u all in?
 
nabmom

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how would u of bet larger on the river? Weren't u all in?

DUH! Excellent point! (I hate being new and making stupid mistakes...)

OK, so then my question is really about whether I should have shoved earlier? Gotten it all in on the flop?

In this situation, what is the prime way to play (given that it's micro stakes)?
 
bgomez89

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First, turn on the auto rebuy so you always start off with $2.

Second, raise more preflop. At 2nl 6 cents is nothing and your standard raise should be 8 or 10 cents.

As played, normally I don't use pot size bets and always bet between 2/3 and 3/4 the pot but lucky you, you have a caller. I think the way you played it was alright but I might have just bet about 50 cents on the turn then shoved river
 
Pascal-lf

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Played it fine, bigger you bet on earlier streets the more you can get from draws. Raise more pre and always always always buy in for the full amount :)
 
Sysvr4

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Looks good to me. The pot-sized bets are appropriate as this level because, as you discovered, you will get called.

If you started with a larger stack, I may be inclined to say check/call the river against an aggressive opponent to obviate a tough decision when raised, and to maximize value from someone who isn't going to call but may bluff with a busted draw. As it is, betting the remainder of your stack was an appropriate play.
 
nabmom

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Second, raise more preflop. At 2nl 6 cents is nothing and your standard raise should be 8 or 10 cents.

Thanks to everyone for the comments. They are really appreciated. My main lesson learned from this hand is to increase my pre-flop raise (and yes, I have set the auto-rebuy to keep me full-stacked). It might (or might not) have knocked out the villain who was sticky with his 89s diamond flush draw. He called twice without the right odds and got his flush on the river. The good news, I guess, is he's out there somewhere and thinks he did the right thing. Hopefully I'll find him again!
 
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bgomez89

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Thanks to everyone for the comments. They are really appreciated. My main lesson learned from this hand is to increase my pre-flop raise (and yes, I have set the auto-rebuy to keep me full-stacked). It might (or might not) have knocked out the villain who was sticky with his 89s diamond flush draw. He called twice without the right odds and got his flush on the river. The good news, I guess, is he's out there somewhere and thinks he did the right thing. Hopefully I'll find him again!

we don't increase our bet size to knock out people who will call with worse, we increase it because we think can get more value from the people who will call with worse and at 2nl, this is definitely the case
 
A

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Sit with 2$, and raise to minimum $0.08 preflop.
 
bullishwwd

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Ditto

First, turn on the auto rebuy so you always start off with $2.

Second, raise more preflop. At 2nl 6 cents is nothing and your standard raise should be 8 or 10 cents.

As played, normally I don't use pot size bets and always bet between 2/3 and 3/4 the pot but lucky you, you have a caller. I think the way you played it was alright but I might have just bet about 50 cents on the turn then shoved river

Exactly my thoughts except I would have shoved the turn! you did ok mate, Wally
 
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