When Big Slick doesn't connect

Just had a roller-coaster ride at tiny limit Paradise. Not getting any kind of cards for the last two months I probably wasn't ready for this surge of premium hands; 3 AKo, 1 KK, 1 AA and a bunch of AQo, AJs and KJs, most of them in great or decent position. Oh, and all this in 90 minutes of play /images/smile.gif


However, the big slicks cost me money. I must've forgotten the Slick is the best possible drawing hand but it still IS a drawing hand. Please criticize:


Hand 1:


I'm on button with AKo, ten handed. UTG limps, next in raises. Folded to me and I make it three bets. Blinds fold, limper and raiser calls.


Flop 7 T J two-flush, I've got the suit A


Limper checks, raiser bets. I raise out of pure reflex. Both opponents call


Turn offsuit J


Not good. Limper checks, raiser bets. I fold, so does limper. The raiser shows his hand A8s (three flush on flop). This was the first round of play, I later surmised that the raiser really was an idiot.


Hand 2:


Just two hands later. Same lineup, I'm 2-off with AKo. Early player (another player) limps, folded to me I raise, cutoff coldcalls and button makes it three bets. Limper calls. I decide to cap it and all call. Four handed.


Flop: J 8 7 rainbow


EP checks, I bet. CO and Btn calls, EP folds. Hrm, not to much info there.


Turn: 2 bringing flush draw. I've got the suit A for what it's worth


The deuce shouldn't have helped anyone, so I bet out again. CO calls and Btn raises. Now I should've known I'm toast so dont bother commenting. Me and CO calls.


River: 6


Checked to Btn who bets. I throw a call down the drain to look at his set of Jacks. Horrible play, I know.


Hand 3:


Exactly one round later. 2-off with AKo again. EP limper only to me, I raise. CO, BB and EP calls.


Flop: 4 4 2 two-flush (not my suits)


This shouldnt hit anyone. BB, EP check. I bet. CO and BB call, EP folds. I could like this, both remaing players seemed fond of sticking around with second best hands.


Turn: 7 offsuit


BB checks. I bet, both opponents call. Nobody playing back at me, I should like it.


River: 2 offsuit


BB checks, I bet again thinking my A kicker good enough. CO calls and I lose to his pocket 3s.


These three hands were the reason I dug myself into a 18 bigbet hole which I turned into a 17 bb win, all in 90 minutes.

I have a little rule that I apply when there's 2 pair on board. You can't bet an ace kicker for value - even if the cards and betting do not suggest a full house is out. No worse hand will call, yet you will be called by any hand that beats you (specifically pocket pairs). The only reason to bet is if you think the other guy has an ace, as he might fold it. Most players won't do that, though.


So, I would check for value on the end in hand 3.

they say, of course, that more money is lost with Big Slick than any other hand. I might make the general comment that you are being a tad aggressive with it - as you raise at virtually every opportunity. Position with Big Slick determines whether I raise - UTG of course, and if there is a chance of reducing the field.


In your first example, "UTG limps, next in raises. Folded to me and I make it three bets." making it three bets accomplished little (the blinds will probably stay for three bets if they were going to stay for two) - when you could have concealed the strength of your hand by calling; the limper and raiser will both be staying.


finally, in "Hold 'em Excellence" by Lou Krieger, there is an excellent discussion of how to play big slick.


regards,


b.h.