AA in BB: KQQ flop

For the first time in about 2 years, I did not cap a hand pre-flop with AA. The game was PP $2-$4. I was having a nightmare session--played about one hand per three rounds for 3 hours, folded nearly every blind and was down about $80. The last hand I played I open raised in MP with AJo and everyone folded. I am a tight player but my image is of an uber rock because every hand I get is in the Q6o, J3o, 94o variety.


I pick up AA in the BB. A MP player open raises and the person on his left 3 bets, all fold to me in the BB. I think about capping but feel that would scream AA/KK since I have not even 3 bet the whole session. I decide to try to disguise my hand a bit and try to eke out extra bets after the flop. The MP player just calls as well.


Was this plan a good one? Why or why not? If you don't not cap here, are you saying you NEVER don't cap with AA?


Flop is Kd Qd Qc


I bet and both call. Was this bet a good idea?


What is your plan for the turn?


What turn cards (if any) would scare you? How (if at all) would your plan change if an offsuit J or any diamond hit on the turn?


If you did cap it pre-flop, how would you have proceeded?


Thanks as always.


KJS

You can cap here without being of the 'always cap with Aces school'. I'd rather not cap, if say I'd raise one limper, a solid player three-bets me and the limper is the only other caller...I'd say that would be a much better situation for not capping Aces.


An observant opponent will probably smell something fishy if YOU cold-call two in big blind here anyway. Though for many low-limit players, cold-calling two in BB is nothing to shout too loudly about.


lars

Cap it. (Always)


Bet the flop.


Bet the turn (bet it blind in a B&M casino).


Put my foot on the gas and don't slow down until someones tells me I should. Could someone have KQ or Q-anything? Yep. Would I worry about it? Nope. Primarily because they could have draws, or lesser pairs and all manner of other garbage they will call you with. So many players will automatically call a flop bet after investing 3 or 4 before the flop.


If it is raised and reraised behind you can fold the turn. If just one raise, I would call and check/call the river.


Don't fear your opponents nuts until he shows them to you!


OneTime

I cap it and bet the turn. I have the best draw and possibly the best hand. I am afraid of QQ, but I still have the best draw. I re-raise if I still have 2 players.

I would cap it every time. As far as getting the extra bet later, you'll find with the huge pot they'll hang around longer than they should anyway. Keep pushing til someone convinces you they have a Q.


Glad to see you've moved up in limits. Got the Bankroll problem worked out??

I was very certain to try to stick around each limit until I had 200 BB for the next one. I reached that at so I moved up. I did well and actually got up to 3-6 for a couple shots because I read here that those games were good. Unfortunately, my 4 month tear--which got me from .5-1 to some 3-6--is now a downturn so I dropped down to 2-4 full time again until my results improve.


Its been very hard to adjust to losing after such an extended upswing. Hands like the one above really test me because I get that "how is this going to go wrong" feeling sometimes, even when I start with a great hand. I find that my form of tilt to be too passive, waiting for the best hand to come out of the woodwork, instead of playing good aggressive poker like I was when I was crushing the games. That said, I am trying very hard to play optimally even though that has not appeared to be helping my bottom line. This rough patch will surely end sometime.


KJS

I did exactly as you advised. I bet the turn, the MP guy dropped and the 3 bettor raised. I called him down and lost to AQ. C'est la vie.


KJS

You'll make it stick for sure. The 3/6 games got real good a couple of weeks ago, then tightened up again. Last night out of the blue there were 4 games were the table was seeing > 30% of the flops again.


I've managed to stick at 3/6 for a month now. My limits are a little lower than yours though. I only drop down if I get below 100 bb's. I'm being a little more cautious with the 5/10 jump though. I've hit my 150 BB's for that, but I think I'll wait for the 200.


See you at the tables.

I'm glad to see you're both moving up, but don't do it too quickly. I enjoy your posts too much. If you go much higher, we may never see you in the "small stakes" posts again! lol--Thanks for the terrific posts.