Cash Game, Pocket aces in early position

Genso Hikki

Genso Hikki

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Total posts
1,279
Chips
0
Okay, I’m posting this hand not because I want analysis on how I played it, but because I want analysis on the way UTG played it. We’ve been having quite a lively discussion about this hand since it happened last night (lively discussion means argument people) and UTG happens to be my fiancé. I’m not going to post my problem with the way he played the hand until later, I want to see what you guys think about it first. Come on guys, help us settle this disagreement so we can quite bickering about it.

10 handed cash game, blinds are $1 and $2

Approximate stack sizes of relevant players:
UTG: $180
UTG+1 (hero) $300
Button: $220
Dealt to Hero – As, Ah

Blinds are posted
UTG raises to $3.50
Hero raises to $8.00
All other players fold, Button raises to $16
Blinds fold, UTG calls $16
UTG+1 (hero) Raises to $50
Button calls
UTG calls
Pot is $153

FLOP:
Js, 4h, 6c

UTG checks
Hero bets $75
Button calls
UTG+1 folds
Pot is $303

TURN
2h
Hero moves all in
Button calls
Hero shows As, Ah
Button shows 10c, 10s

RIVER
9h
Hero collects $493
UTG+1 exposes his hole cards of Ad, Jd

Now, feel free to critique the way I played this hand (I was not happy about how big the pot got so quickly, but with Aces, I wasn’t folding and I wasn’t about to let the others draw at me for free). What I’m most interested in though is your thoughts on how UTG played his A,J, the pre-flop call and the eventual fold.
 
Dwilius

Dwilius

CardsChat Regular
Silver Level
Joined
May 5, 2008
Total posts
7,584
Awards
34
Chips
0
10 handed I'll fold AJ utg and no way am I calling reraises with it. I guess the original raise was to 5.50 from 2, otherwise its less than a minimum raise. The raises are so small that the 3bet is the size of a normal opening raise, 4bet is small for 3bet...I usually see HHs of live games with larger not smaller preflop raises.
 
Last edited:
BelgoSuisse

BelgoSuisse

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Total posts
9,218
Chips
0
UTG should either fold preflop (style and table dependent) or fold to the BTN's 4bet (always). If he does choose to call preflop for some strange reason, than he has to play for stacks once he flops top pair top kicker. Stack to pot ratio is compelling at this point. If you're not willing to play your remaining $130 for a $150 pot when you flop TPTK, you clearly did not have the odds to call whatever it is you were chasing preflop.
 
Genso Hikki

Genso Hikki

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Total posts
1,279
Chips
0
UTG should either fold preflop (style and table dependent) or fold to the BTN's 4bet (always). If he does choose to call preflop for some strange reason, than he has to play for stacks once he flops top pair top kicker. Stack to pot ratio is compelling at this point. If you're not willing to play your remaining $130 for a $150 pot when you flop TPTK, you clearly did not have the odds to call whatever it is you were chasing preflop.

Bingo. This is what I've been trying to tell him all day. First off, I hate the call pre-flop with A,J after a re-raise and a call, but once he decides to call and he hits his hand on the flop, I can't believe he decided to fold. What was the point of calling a pre-flop raise if you're going to fold when you flop top pair, top kicker?
 
BelgoSuisse

BelgoSuisse

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Total posts
9,218
Chips
0
Well, his one good defense would be that he was planning to play for stacks with TPTK against the BTN, but that once you called too, he could read you for an overpair and made a hero fold.

Anyway, you shouldn't be too hard on him. His call helped make the pot bigger on the flop, which made it a lot easier for you to convince BTN to donate his stack with second pair. Not a bad result at all in the end. :D
 
Genso Hikki

Genso Hikki

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Total posts
1,279
Chips
0
Well, his one good defense would be that he was planning to play for stacks with TPTK against the BTN, but that once you called too, he could read you for an overpair and made a hero fold.

LOL, that's exactly what he's been arguing. My retort was, "so then, after re-popped the button and he called you figured one of us had an over pair and you called with A,J anyway?"

But your right. His bad play made me some money I probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
 
bubbasbestbabe

bubbasbestbabe

Suckout Queen
Silver Level
Joined
May 22, 2005
Total posts
10,646
Awards
1
Chips
7
Buy him a six pack with your winnings, kiss him and say thank you honey. Then make sure you note this about his play.
 
O

orangeliger

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Total posts
18
Chips
0
yea i agree with genso, i would never call AJ with a reraise
 
O

orangepeeleo

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Total posts
3,148
Chips
0
This hand confused the hell out of me, you've annotated that hero = UTG+1, then hero is dealt AsAh, then hero wins the pot at the end but UTG+1, previously annotated as hero, shows AJ??? :confused:

I don't play AJ in ep or to a raise, theres just too much chance of getting in trouble with it, after a 4bet this a simple fold, against a range like JJ+ AQs+ and AQo+, which is easily conceivable given its a 4 bet pot, AJd is only 29% to win, and thats against 1 opponent who could be holding that range, against 2 you drop to 18%!

If you are going to play this hand for $50 preflop it is soooooo weak to fold it when you hit top pair, if he fold's tptk what exactly was he looking for on a flop? a miracle flopped straight?? he cant be looking for the flush as he's never going to be paid if 3 to a flush flops and if hes not comfortable sticking it in with tptk then he's definetly not the type that pushes it in on a flush draw either.

Sorry if this sounds mean, i don't mean to sound harsh, i'm not the best poker mind on this forum but even i can see that this was played terribly, theres no argument for his play at all unless he can soul read people and knew you were both bluffing with low suited connectors lol your lucky he's your fiance i'd want him at every home game i played in lol
 
Real Money Poker - Real Money Casinos Top 10 Games
Top