Should I played my hand more aggressively?

[Dennis]

http://www.sharemypair.com/smpweb/smpviewdetails/feed_id/29113

Hi everyone,
I am wondering if I should have played my aces differently in this 2/2 game at the local casino.
The villian was quite aggressive, so I expected him to bet. Thereby, I feel like I locked up quite a lot on the flop with the set of aces. I decided to check/shove turn as the board gets somewhat scary at that point. I think I could have raised a bit larger pre though. Do you think I should just lead the flop, and probably bet, bet, bet?

Interest in your thoughts!
Cheers,
Dennis (Netherlands)

[Look]

HI,

Thanks for posting the hand. I play 1-3 at my local casino.

The betting in this hand I believe is really dependant on your opponents range. The fact that he overcalled the early position limp makes me assume he doesn’t have any really strong holdings. Def don’t put him on AA,AK,AQ,KK,QQ,JJ,1010 or even 99. However some weak players may limp 10-10 or lower pocket pairs or even with AQ in the low limit games.

After the flop villain donk bets into the PFR 1/2 and here I would like to raise and start building the pot because there is broadway draws/flush draws and if my opponent did limp call with a weaker Ace he may even pay us on turn too. I would raise on flop to $30. By raising flop we narrow down his range and if he has an Ace or flush draw he’s not folding anyway. I am just curious why you just flat called? If i did just flat the flop like you did and turn rolled out a K I would probably just flat again because the raise allin only accomplishes us getting in vs QJ or AK, only two hands that makes sense that would get it in with us, and AK is unlikely in this scenerio. HOwever if our opponent actually had a strong hand he would let us know on flop after we raised him and if he has a set or AQ or A10o we might stack him. I totally understand that you didn’t want a scare card to roll out on the river because it was a draw heavy board on the turn but I do feel the jam is too much of an overbet and will miss out value in future similar encounters.

Hope that helps adding my 2 cents in. I am trying to learn the game and become better and better so its fun to bounce ideas.

[Look]

Sorry just re-read your post again.

I just wanted to add that I would make it $20 pre. and if the villain is aggressive then why not raise flop to build pot? He is going to have a wide range so why not charge him for chasing flush draws/broadway str8 or peel turn with Ax.

Thanks 🙂

[Steve]

I personally love the way you played it up until the turn. My experience with hyper aggressive players is they hate aggression back at them and will sometimes fold in marginal situations for them. So too big of a pre-flop raise and they sometimes will just give you $2.
I think a min click back on the turn (re-raise $30) is best setting up a river shove for your remaining $88.
If he draws out on you, he draws out. You don’t have that much money left anyway and you’re happy to get it all in with trip aces.
I just played a hand exactly like this at MGM in Vegas with the exact same result when I check-shoved the turn with my trip aces. Do as I say, not as I do 😃.
It is so hard when the board gets scary!

[Steve]

Another option depending on how aggressive the player is would be to weak lead the flop. Say $10 or $12.
Hyper aggressive players love to pounce on weakness with big three bets.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the thoughts Look!
It wasn’t actually a donkbet since I checked it to him on the flop. I think a check raise on the flop as you suggested would not have been the best play in my opinion, since I do not want to scare him off on the flop already. I think betting out myself would have been better in hindsight.
The rest of your points I agree mostly,
thanks again!
Cheers

[Dennis]

Thanks for your thoughts Steve. I like your suggestions very much actually. Maybe I shouldn’t be too scared of the river card with just 88 behind.. And indeed, he would never fold on a minraise so extra money in the pot is never bad in this situation.

Weak leading on the flop is also an option to consider next time.

Thanks a lot!
cheers!

[Paul Hewson]

The pre-flop raise size is really dependant on what will get called, and this is pretty location specific. But that said with AA you’re goal pre should be to get heads up and all-in at some point, so building a bigger pot to start with would make sense.

With top set on the flop you definitely want to get V all in, so I think a c-bet into an aggressive V makes most sense, it doesn’t indicate the real strength of your hand, as most aggressors c-bet regardless of how well they hit. If V has anything he’ll call, if not he’s not having more than a stab at the pot.

Your check-call was risky – What if V didn’t bet? Then you only have two street to get all in.

If you check raised on the flop you look monster strong and fold out pretty much any hands.

Those are my thoughts – in the cold light of day, not having a set of Aces in front of me!

[Ryan]

i make it bigger pre OOP

just C-bet flop cause you have no clubs so its more likely he has a hand

[Author]

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