More players in the hand also justify giving up with AA because pocket Aces is still only one pair. Also, coordinated boards aren't so good for AA due to the potential for Flushes or Straights.
Here is one situation I was thinking about. It happened in one of the cardschat freerolls less than a week ago.
I don't want to get into the details of the hand, but I had AA versus one reg on a board of J98.
They put in an All-in on the Flop and I ended up calling it off quickly. I'm not thrilled with AA, but I was putting my opponent on overplaying Top Pair.
My Aces get cracked by 98o and I bust. I wasn't really that upset at Aces getting cracked because it happens, but you know what? I think I might have been able to get away from this hand and fold!
Against a fish, I'm probably still snap calling, but against a good player who just shoved All-in for roughly 80 bbs, I might consider realizing even AA is no good. Here are some reasons I might have talked myself into folding and not thinking of myself as too nitty:
- The board is pretty coordinated and this makes a high pair less attractive. Even if AA is still ahead, then it can still get outdrawn and there are always 2 pair or sets etc which are already ahead.
- My single opponent I consider a regular. If they shove this deep, they probably "have it" and that means something that beats pocket Aces on this board.
- In hindsight, I also think blockers should have been a larger factor in my decision making process. I felt my opponent was overplaying Top Pair, but I block any Ace with my pocket pair, so it is less likely Villain has AJ. Maybe someone is overplaying Top Pair with an Ace kicker, but is my reg opponent shoving here with KJ or QJ? I don't think so. I think I was overestimating my hand.
I'm not thrilled with ever folding AA, but if there was ever a time to fold them versus a single opponent, then this might have been the time.
Many examples are in multiway pots and even more so out of position, but this case was one opponent where I was in position if I recall correctly. Next time, I very well might be able to get away from this hand and fold here!
__________________
1st place finish at CardsChat 30 Day Course Freeroll (May 31, 2020). As my first ever CardsChat event, this one will always be special for me.
|