Damned AA

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TheDoc

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Sometimes I get timid playing AA because it is so easy to lose your stack. Here is a recent hand where it got sticky so I bailed out. Comments anyone on alternative ways to play this:

TEXAS_HOLDEM, , P4-49361673-928
played at "Baltimore" for USD RM from 1969-12-31 18:59:59 until 1969-12-31 18:59:59



Seat 1: Jim89 ($22.35 in chips)
Seat 2: la78 ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 4: goblin guy ($32.45 in chips)
Seat 5: ville 32 ($39.60 in chips)
Seat 6: fire_hand x ($24.20 in chips)
Seat 7: tf0815 ($20.85 in chips)
Seat 8: KelyRobinson ($7.15 in chips)
Seat 9: cologne1987. ($22.05 in chips)
Seat 10: NoRushes ($29.60 in chips)



ANTES/BLINDS
cologne1987. posts blind ($0.15), NoRushes posts blind ($0.25).
PRE-FLOP
Jim89 bets $1, la78 folds, goblin guy folds, ville 32 calls $1, fire_hand x folds, tf0815 folds, KelyRobinson folds, cologne1987. folds, NoRushes folds.
FLOP [board cards: JS,KH,6C ]
Jim89 bets $2, ville 32 bets $7, Jim89 folds.
 
Last edited:
calibanboy

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This is an interesting fold.

I have a number of questions.

a) What image does he currently have, what does he think of you?
b) Why has he rerasied you so much? ( could be related to 1st question),

However here are some theories for 2 average / good players playing each other.

1) - He believes that you near pot bet sized continuation bet is an attempt from you to buy the hand. He knows Players often show strength when they are weak ( to buy pots ) and weakness when they are strong. ( to trap players ) This is NOT a scarey board and hence he figures why would someone bet big if they had a strong hand - surely they would trap as they can afford to do this as they are unlikely to be outdrawn.? He does not have to protect his hand, Hence he considers your strong showing as a sign of weakness and puts you to the test as your bet is unorthodox for a very stong hand. If you have not got a very strong hand then you probably he figures you will have to fold.

2) - he has flopped a set. he would have called with 66 prefop but raised with KK or JJ. However if he has a set then this is NOT a scarey board, The same logic as above must apply. If he has a set then he will likely want to keep you around longer so that he can extract more money from you. he does not want to scare you off and lose value. Funny enough had he Minimimum raised or flat called. then the warning signs of a set would have gone off in my head.

3) - he has a straight draw. ( Qt or AQ). This is a semi bluff. He is tryng to buy this pot here and now. he knows that there is a fallback plan - eg getting lucky. Not that, this fits nicely with theory number 1.

4) - he has TPTK. (or good kicker eg KQ). It is possible he has TPTK. he knows that this is strongish but also vulnerable. he wants to win the pot and good money but also wants to know exactly where he stands. However Ak should have re-raised Preflop, hence could be KQ. if he has KQ he will probably fold to a push. His Bet is a good size because it leaves you little choice but to fold or Push as a reraise is virtually the same as a push. If you call in this situation he will probably want to invest the minimal extra amount unless he hits 2P or better. He would fold to a push.

5) - He could have 2P. ( KJ). This is possible, and he may well play this strong to see whether you had raised with JJ or KK. If so then you would be beat unless you get lucky.

In summation. I think he has the straight draw, Top Pair good/top kicker or 2P. Set being an outside chance ( 6's). Therefore its marginal.

Each to their own. However based on this being 25NL I would push this marginal decision based on general standard of play and people vastly overvaluating Top pair. Personal choice. The thing that would change this would be depending upon who I was playing against. ( please bear this in mind when slating my analysis).

Good luck at the tables. also folding overpairs is not the worst thing in the world.
 
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TheDoc

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Wow thanks for the detailed comments. I was playing pretty tight. He was pretty loose, although not really aggressive. The big raise from him was unusual for him. I took it for a set, either 6s or Js. If he had Ks he would have reraised me. He could also have had AK or KQ, or hell even KJ. It was marginal, and I just didnt feel like I had a winner.

The question in my mind is my bet on the flop. Too much like a continuation bet? Would you put out a smaller/larger bet here? Or a check raise?

The other thing about overpairs like AA that I find tricky is that they are hidden, and sometimes I think people look at the board and decide they have the best hand, (in this case with AK).
 
calibanboy

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Hi Doc, here are a few comments

Wow thanks for the detailed comments. I was playing pretty tight. He was pretty loose, although not really aggressive. The big raise from him was unusual for him. ( when people do something unusual then it implies extreme strength or a total bluff ) I took it for a set, either 6s or Js. If he had Ks he would have reraised me. He could also have had AK or KQ, or hell even KJ. It was marginal, and I just didnt feel like I had a winner.

The question in my mind is my bet on the flop. Too much like a continuation bet? Would you put out a smaller/larger bet here? Or a check raise?

Well I think that a pot sized bet ( or over pot sized bet ) looks weak. At medium levels some players know this and will play certain opponents in this way when they have the nuts as they think someone will put them to the test with a marginal hand. A double bluff if you will.

A standard CB is normally 66=75% of the pot. some players use this as standard. they use it for bluffs and for good hands. The reasoning is that if they do the same thing for both elements then people will always be second guessing.

A smaller bet <66% looks weak and is inviting a player to call or raise with marginal hands or hands that can improve in later streets, especially when stacks are deep. Some players know this and hence bet weak - eg 30% when they have very strong holdings. They want to tempt people and raise the pot. Funny enough, some players realise this and are likely to fold a small raise if they consider the player "tricky". It can be a cheap way to win a pot in some hands against some opponents depending of their image of you.

Personally I think the 66-75% rule is a good one. You ask a question of your opponent ( eg do they want to risk more money in this hand) and people do not know if you are bluffing or not. ( if you do the same most times ).

The other thing about overpairs like AA that I find tricky is that they are hidden, and sometimes I think people look at the board and decide they have the best hand, (in this case with AK). I agree with you. That whats I mean by over valueing TPTK at 25NL and hence my suggested Push.

Hope this helps.....
 
dj11

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For future HH postings, please tells us who you are.
 
SPANKYSN

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whats your name? which one was you?
 
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TheDoc

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Sorry, yes I will makes sure next time. I am Jim89 in this hand, with a pretty looking AA in my hand. And thanks for the insightful comment calibanboy.
 
calibanboy

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No problem Doc.

I am interested to know what other folk think here? would they push too?
 
SPANKYSN

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I hate it when i lose with AA... i get so angry.
 
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ICMoney

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Not sure how full ring plays but I'm not folding this at 6-max.

So he raises and you fold.

How much equity does PokerStove say you have?
I think it's higher than you might guess.
 
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