$5 NLHE 6-max: Slowplaying AA?

LINK: http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/8347882

Hello Cardschat Forum,

Not sure if im using the right method to post but here is a link to the Poker Hand Replay. I'd be happy if you could check it out.

Really unfortunate runout for the AA. Should I have 3bet the Turn?

Thanks in advance

I think you actually played the hand pretty well! We want to have some strong checks on those kind of flops after we 3bet pre for balance, and I think AA with the ace of hearts is literally the PERFECT hand to do it with.

Preflop: Standard squeezing spot after an open and a call, can get a lot of value from worse hands. Even though we have aces, I would have prefered to see a larger raise size from OOP, probably to something like $.70-.75 cents. When we 3bet bluff in this scenario, we want to maximize our fold equity and raising to 3x the open, plus an open size raise for every call and plus another 2 big blinds for being OOP, I think that's the best size for our entire range.

Flop: I really like the check here! We definetly are going to be checking quite a few hands on this flop that complete wiff, like AK, AQ and bet some overpairs like 10s, JJs, QQs and maybe KK without a heart. But as I mentioned earlier, I think checking AA with the ace of hearts is an outstanding hand to check here for deception and to protect our range.

Turn: I think continuing our check/call line here is fine, I think a leadout here would be weird especially if we get raised. So as played on the flop, I like the decision to check with the intention of calling here, which is what you were going to do!

River: I think a value bet is mandatory here, as there are a lot of second best hands we can get value from and I would imagine all of villains flushes, two pairs and sets would bet turn the vast majority of the time. However, when we get jammed on, I don't think that villain is ever jamming worse hands here. Nothing really makes sense for him to be bluffing with that would check the turn, and there are a ton of better hands villain can definetly have on this board runnout. It sucks to fold AA when you've really underrepped your hand, but I just don't see a lot of 5NL players bluffing in this spot. A jam on the river in the micros is almost never a bluff, it's 99% value unless you're playing against an insane person. However, besides the call on the river, I think you played the hand great!

TCashMoney19 said:

I think you actually played the hand pretty well! We want to have some strong checks on those kind of flops after we 3bet pre for balance, and I think AA with the ace of hearts is literally the PERFECT hand to do it with.

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I disagree,2nl and 5nl are not beaten by balancing your range and deception , they are beaten by taking fat value from your strong hands with an unbalanced range because your opponents will call too much. You aren't trying to give people a reason not to fold , you take advantage of their inclination not to fold.

Preflop: Standard squeezing spot after an open and a call, can get a lot of value from worse hands. Even though we have aces, I would have prefered to see a larger raise size from OOP, probably to something like $.70-.75 cents.

Click to expand...

probably the only part of your post that i agree with but for different reasons. going for fat value instead of balancing ranges.

When we 3bet bluff in this scenario, we want to maximize our fold equity and raising to 3x the open, plus an open size raise for every call and plus another 2 big blinds for being OOP, I think that's the best size for our entire range.

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WHy would we want to balance our 3 bet bluffs here? We have no info on the opponents at all, players at these stakes tend to call too much so why would we want any three bet bluffs in our range at these stakes. We don't know if these guys are loose or tight or anything .

Flop: I really like the check here! We definetly are going to be checking quite a few hands on this flop that complete wiff, like AK, AQ and bet some overpairs like 10s, JJs, QQs and maybe KK without a heart. But as I mentioned earlier, I think checking AA with the ace of hearts is an outstanding hand to check here for deception and to protect our range.

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I think its horrible.You 3bet pre pre , flop an over pair, cbet the flop for gods sake and get value from worse overpairs until you get raised when you reevaluate. flop is connected so checking lets hands like 77,88 33 XhXh all get a cheap look at hitting their straight/flush draws. I've never heard anyone ever say checking to protect your range , checking does nothing to protect anything, the phrase usually used is betting to protect your hand by folding out some of the drawing hands, checking folds nothing out .

Turn: I think continuing our check/call line here is fine, I think a leadout here would be weird especially if we get raised. So as played on the flop, I like the decision to check with the intention of calling here, which is what you were going to do!

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What you are talking about is playing this hand like a fish who gives up all initiative and lets opponents suck out on them cheaply and then moan when the inevitable suckout comes that poker is rigged. Just bet the turn as well

River: I think a value bet is mandatory here, as there are a lot of second best hands we can get value from and I would imagine all of villains flushes, two pairs and sets would bet turn the vast majority of the time. However, when we get jammed on, I don't think that villain is ever jamming worse hands here. Nothing really makes sense for him to be bluffing with that would check the turn, and there are a ton of better hands villain can definetly have on this board runnout. It sucks to fold AA when you've really underrepped your hand, but I just don't see a lot of 5NL players bluffing in this spot. A jam on the river in the micros is almost never a bluff, it's 99% value unless you're playing against an insane person. However, besides the call on the river, I think you played the hand great!

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This is where your chickens have come home to roost because you didn't go for fat value. Are you honestly going to say that TT gets to the river if you 3bet pre , cbet the flop , bet the turn and he's now facing a potential flush and an overcard on the board at the turn.When he shoves, its a fold as theres potential flushes , straights , sets and 2pairs there

@TCashMoney19

Wow that's a great breakdown of the hand! Makes a lot of sense Thank you very much

Keith_MM said:

I disagree,2nl and 5nl are not beaten by balancing your range and deception , they are beaten by taking fat value from your strong hands with an unbalanced range because your opponents will call too much. You aren't trying to give people a reason not to fold , you take advantage of their inclination not to fold.

probably the only part of your post that i agree with but for different reasons. going for fat value instead of balancing ranges.

WHy would we want to balance our 3 bet bluffs here? We have no info on the opponents at all, players at these stakes tend to call too much so why would we want any three bet bluffs in our range at these stakes. We don't know if these guys are loose or tight or anything .

I think its horrible.You 3bet pre pre , flop an over pair, cbet the flop for gods sake and get value from worse overpairs until you get raised when you reevaluate. flop is connected so checking lets hands like 77,88 33 XhXh all get a cheap look at hitting their straight/flush draws. I've never heard anyone ever say checking to protect your range , checking does nothing to protect anything, the phrase usually used is betting to protect your hand by folding out some of the drawing hands, checking folds nothing out .

What you are talking about is playing this hand like a fish who gives up all initiative and lets opponents suck out on them cheaply and then moan when the inevitable suckout comes that poker is rigged. Just bet the turn as well


This is where your chickens have come home to roost because you didn't go for fat value. Are you honestly going to say that TT gets to the river if you 3bet pre , cbet the flop , bet the turn and he's now facing a potential flush and an overcard on the board at the turn.When he shoves, its a fold as theres potential flushes , straights , sets and 2pairs there

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@KeithMM

Thanks for your reply!

I agree that its +ev to exploit Micro Stakes CS through aggressive betting. But this guy was fairly tight with a VPIP 14 PFR 14 over a couple of hundred hands. Furthermore, his FCBET number was pretty high too. To maximize value against this type of player (even in micro) I assumed my AA were good so I let him bet into me. In hindsight, I agree that I should've bet 50-60%+ Pot on all streets, maybe he wouldve folded on the J turn.

Thanks a lot again for the reply! Helps a lot

which do you think is worse for you in the longrun, playing weakly and letting them suck out on you cheaply and taking stacks , or folding out worse hands because they don't want to stack off with a marginal hand.

As you see from this hand, 14/14 is going to have a decent hand to call a 3bet with in the first place and if you can get 1 or 2 streets of value out of him all the better.

What Keith MM says, think you are overthinking it. If you decided to slow play, don't call the river raise, you are beat 99%...!

Keith_MM said:

which do you think is worse for you in the longrun, playing weakly and letting them suck out on you cheaply and taking stacks , or folding out worse hands because they don't want to stack off with a marginal hand.

As you see from this hand, 14/14 is going to have a decent hand to call a 3bet with in the first place and if you can get 1 or 2 streets of value out of him all the better.

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Alright makes sense! Thanks again for the help

I agree with Keith, you played that way too passive and lost. The villain got to see the turn and river for .90 cents, then got paid off. At a .02/.05 you have to bet, bet, then bet again.

To maximize value against this type of player (even in micro) I assumed my AA were good so I let him bet into me. In hindsight, I agree that I should've bet 50-60%+ Pot on all streets, maybe he wouldve folded on the J turn.

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I don't agree with this at all. With the straight and flush draws out there I would have bet the pot. 50-60% looks like a c-bet and still gives a ton of hands the odds to call.

You have to be careful with slow playing. The only thing I would slow play is flopping a full house, the nut flush, maybe a set. An over pair is just that, 1 pair and is very vulnerable. Slow playing is going to cost you a lot more than it wins. Don't be afraid to bet your hands, you would be surprised how many people call.

Plz check my thread

YannickPoker1 said:

LINK: http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/8347882

Hello Cardschat Forum,

Not sure if im using the right method to post but here is a link to the Poker Hand Replay. I'd be happy if you could check it out.

Really unfortunate runout for the AA. Should I have 3bet the Turn?

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

Please check my thread as well. There are only a FEW places to limp AA. Limping AA is -EV for a million reasons. Choose any.

karl coakley said:

I agree with Keith, you played that way too passive and lost. The villain got to see the turn and river for .90 cents, then got paid off. At a .02/.05 you have to bet, bet, then bet again.



I don't agree with this at all. With the straight and flush draws out there I would have bet the pot. 50-60% looks like a c-bet and still gives a ton of hands the odds to call.

You have to be careful with slow playing. The only thing I would slow play is flopping a full house, the nut flush, maybe a set. An over pair is just that, 1 pair and is very vulnerable. Slow playing is going to cost you a lot more than it wins. Don't be afraid to bet your hands, you would be surprised how many people call.

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Alright Thanks, Going to keep it in my mind on the next Grind

Betting the turn I believe would have won the pot.

If it hadn't and villan calls you on the turn, it's an easy fold thereafter.

Well you play that hand best possible way... everything is fine