raising for value vs. facing the field with two

[tyler_cracker]

Hero has A3/images/graemlins/club.gif in MP3. Table is very loose passive except for the TAG to my right. People limp, TAG folds, Hero calls, people limp and complete and check.

Flop (6 SB): A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 9/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif (6 players)

checks to MP1, MP1 BETS, Hero...?

Do i smooth call here to invite more customers? Do i raise with my big draw, let some of the fish cold-call (as they surely will), maybe fold a better ace (unlikely, i know), maybe get a free card?

What are the things that push this towards a call or towards a raise?

[cold_cash]

[ QUOTE ]
Hero has A3/images/graemlins/club.gif in MP3. Table is very loose passive except for the TAG to my right. People limp, TAG folds, Hero calls, people limp and complete and check.

Flop (6 SB): A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 9/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif (6 players)

checks to MP1, MP1 BETS, Hero...?

Do i smooth call here to invite more customers? Do i raise with my big draw, let some of the fish cold-call (as they surely will), maybe fold a better ace (unlikely, i know), maybe get a free card?

What are the things that push this towards a call or towards a raise?

[/ QUOTE ]

How big the pot is.

What people behind you are likely to do.

How likely you are to have the best hand.

If MP1 would never bet a draw, for instance, you might be better off calling.

If MP1 is an agressive player who would bet hands like 78 or J9, I'd want to raise.

If the pot were twice as big I would want to raise. If it were half as big it's probably a different story. (Although raising might still be best.)

If the players behind me are just as likely to call two bets as they are to call one, I would want to raise.

[MrWookie47]

If they're going to cold call, raise it up. Given the passive nature of the table, you're very likely behind MP1. Consequently, your raise on the flop doesn't protect much. However, if you routinely get folk to cold call your raise, then do it for value. You aren't ahead often enough here to raise, but with even one cold caller, you're going to be ahead often enough at showdown to raise. You're never folding a better A in this game.

[rgb]

I would raise and expect coldcallers to make this a good value raise.


Even if it goes HU and MP1's range is any ace then a raise is still +EV...


Board: Ah 9c 6c
Dead:

equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 53.5589 % 41.48% 12.08% { Ac3c }
Hand 2: 46.4411 % 34.36% 12.08% { A2s+, A2o+ }


rgb

[MadMat]

Raise, you have top pair plus the flush draw, even just one cold caller makes this a raise for value. bear in mind also that if the board pairs, or the turn and river bring high cards your kicker isn't going to play anyhow, so you could end up spliting with a better A even if you don't hit the flush

Mat