Flunking the AQ test

For the past several months, I have beating the low limit HE games I play (up to 6-12) rather regularly, so I felt it was time to step it up.


I'm playing 15-30 HE for the first time. This is the largest game spread at the casino I play in during the week. I'm the only stranger at the table. Everyone else here plays with and know seach other well. They are licking their chops, I'm sure. I have a feeling they may test me and try to run me over early, to see how I respond.


I'm on the cutoff with the first cards dealt to me. I look down and see AQ offsuit. Nice.


A raise just off the button makes it $30. I know nothing about this player. I make it 3 bets without thinking in order to buy the button and force out the blinds. He makes it 4 bets.


OK..He is trying to run me over. I call. Flop comes Q-X-X. He bets, I raise. He just calls.


Turn and river are rags. He checks to me each time, and I bet. He turns over AA. I'm screwed.


Any thoughts on my play? How might any of you have played it differently?

How about not raising with A/Q before the flop and just calling?

How about folding and waiting for a better opportunity to let them try to push you around. AQo is not even close to a re-raising hand and I think calling with it is even worse.


These guys are very comfortable playing at this table and unless I had been playing a while, I would muck all but the best hands for a couple sessions vs. a raise. How many were in the pot already? I would not try to re-raise unless I was 100% certain I would be heads up with him. Again, you are the new guy - earn their respect by folding the AQo and next time it happens he may put you on a set of Q's and fold to your raise on the flop.


Just my thoughts, but that's how I would play it. Oh yeah...easy for me to say now, but I think you have to play super tight for a couple sessions to let them know you are solid.


Gary W.

As John has emphasized before, the "AQ Test" applies to early raises, not those "just off the button," wherever that is. In most 15-30 games I would almost always 3-bet this hand from the cutoff versus a raiser on my immediate right. In this particular situation -- higher game, unknown opponents -- you probably should have had a clearer notion of your opponent and just called. Folding, IMO, would be a bigger mistake than 3-betting.

I agree with you here, if he is stealing. Is he a 1st in raiser or is he raising after limpers? I am unclear with how many are in when he raises. In a new game, unknown opponents, at a higher limit - discretion over valor. I am sure to benefit by hearing more on this situation!


Gary W.

It is just the two of us in the pot, btw.

you played it fine, although I might just call him down once I flop top pair because its one of those "way ahead, or way behind" senarios and you have to pay him off if he threebets you or checkraises you on the turn I think....


Shawn

You know, I don't think this hand went as badly as you thought. I'm sure he figures you for at least a Queen on the flop when you keep betting and maybe he's worried about your kicker. The fact that he does not check-raise you on the Turn and the River tells me that hemight actually be a little weak. You could easily have been in for one more bet on the River. Playing A,Q one before the button is not a bad play. You lost, but you showed you were playing decent cards. If you had turned over pocket twos are 4,5 suited then they'd probably be all over you.


Hope you made out well.

Sorry, I assumed there were more in for some reason. I'm sure I would re-raise in this situation. You probably gained with this in future hands by being aggressive and playing back.


Gary W.


PS Lack of spell-checker is kicking my butt!

assuming that you had to post and that the guy who raised was on your right, then theres absolutely no way you could get away from that hand ever.


i might have checked down the river though (though i may not have).


brad

Doit2it,


I am sure I will be in the minority here,but for what it is worth...


Anytime I am new to a game, I like to set a tight and agressive image. I also make it a goal each and every session to win the first pot I go to the river with. Personally, if I know nothing about a player, I will wait for a better opportunity to 3 bet with. I understand it is a late position raise. I also understand you may very well have the best hand. However, I also know that situations such as this come up often enough that folding a hand such as this to a raise early in a game until I have a read on how everyone plays is not that big of a mistake (if it is a mistake at all) You will have opportunities to isolate players such as this and have a better understanding of where you are in a hand after you have put in a few rounds a a new table. I would have folded pre-flop and waited for my first hand to be a premium one.


Just some thoughts...


Michael D.

I also would probably check behind on the river. I've convinced myself that, against a reasonable player, checking behind is right.


It's a matter of the hand reading. Doit2's opponent's 4 bet which should eliminate KQ and worse (which may be steal raises from his position).


Doit2's raise on the flop, then his denial of a free card suggests at least a pair of queens. Yet, his opponent calls. I think that makes it unlikely his opponent is overplaying something like JJ or TT.


So, There's not really a reasonable holding for DoIt2's opponent which Doit2 can beat.

When your opponent re-raised pre-flop, you have to think possible big pair or AKs. I think the chances of AA or KK are at least 50-50. Before you know your opponent's style at a higher limit (for you), you may want to run (muck) right here.


I'm pretty chickenshit, so maybe I'm being too tight here, but AQo ain't great against a re-raise

if you consider the range of hands your opponent might be re-raising with.


Once you flop the Queen, your'e kinda sucked in.

If this was your first hand aren't the late postion post? And if so does anyone seriously think you should fold AQ here?


ALso is there anyone else in?? Is this a steal raise or not? (Eg did the other play open the pot in late position or were there limpers?)