A $150+12 hand - AQo vs. EP limper

[augie00]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (9 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

CO (t2330)
Button (t3900)
SB (t7870)
BB (t4150)
UTG (t2125)
UTG+1 (t5930)
Hero (t3470)
MP2 (t5775)
MP3 (t3775)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, A/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+1 calls t200, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t600</font>, <font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, UTG+1 calls t400.

Flop: (t1500) 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 5/images/graemlins/club.gif, Q/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG+1 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t1000</font>, UTG+1 calls t1000.

Turn: (t3500) K/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

River: (t3500) 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 bets t1200</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: t4700

[Pat Southern]

I don't like this line at all, each street looks ok in isolation, but the plan as a whole I dont like. I would have raised more preflop, then either bet smaller or pushed on the flop. You can't bet 1000 on that flop then fold on the river after checking behind on the turn. What was your plan when you checked behind on the turn? What Ax /images/graemlins/club.gif calls you preflop? What Kx takes this line (I'd think KQ would try to get allin on the flop).

[augie00]

This is (for the most part) how I feel about playing against EP limpers with AK and AQ.

If the flop contains paint, I bet. If the flop is low, I check behind.

If the flop is paint and then they call, I give them credit for a made hand or a good draw. Since it is unlikely that they limp-called with something like QJ or QK, I am pretty sure I'm losing on the turn.

[augie00]

[ QUOTE ]
What was your plan when you checked behind on the turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

Folding to a bet over T600.

[sapster]

I don't mind the smaller raise preflop so that you have more room to maneuver. However, on this flop and with the pot being in such big relation to your remaining chips, I think I will fire a bet closer to the pot or just pot it.

[augie00]

Wouldn't you agree that if he's folding for 1500 he's folding for 1000?

[sapster]

You never know, but I don't really see the advantage of 1k unless you are planning on getting away from the hand. It will put you in tougher situations if you bet 1k. What hands are you putting him on after he calls you? is QJ inconceivable or JJ, did you have any reads? After betting 1k the pot is so big I just hate getting away from the hand. I wouldn't push the flop but I'd bet enough where I'd feel fine not folding later and still give TT or some donkey the chance to reraise you thinking you will fold.

[augie00]

[ QUOTE ]
You never know, but I don't really see the advantage of 1k unless you are planning on getting away from the hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly why I bet 1k. So that I could fold if he would call. If I didn't want to fold that I would have probably simply gone all in on the flop.

[TheJackal]

Well given how you played the hand, you can do nothing but fold on the river. The turn card was the worst card that could have hit for your hand. I think if the king of clubs didn't hit, you'd have an easy bet on the turn. I probably bet a bit more on the flop, but I would def in your instance check the turn and fold river if called.

[adanthar]

I don't mind any street (in fact I'd be more likely to call a river push than this bet for 2/3 of your stack) but if you still check behind if the turn is the 2 /images/graemlins/diamond.gif or even the K /images/graemlins/diamond.gif, you have a problem.

[sapster]

The only thing that worries me is him making a loose call on the flop hoping you are on a continuation bet if he is holding some mid pair or maybe qjs or something. Then he sees the turn and decides to probably give up but you checck. Then he thinks he can steal the pot, then its a catastrophe. Did he get all those chips by making loose calls? If so I'm worried, holla.

[TheJackal]

[ QUOTE ]
The only thing that worries me is him making a loose call on the flop hoping you are on a continuation bet if he is holding some mid pair or maybe qjs or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't make the mistake of thinking he has nothing (mid pair) or a worse top pair hand here. I think the weakest made hand he holds is KQ. I think he either has AQ/OP/draw. Remember villian is an early position and even the loose players play in regards to position (for the most part).