Unimproved Buried A's.

[Andy B]

In stud, where the best hand is less likely to hold up as opposed to other games such as hold em, I like to be as aggressive with big pairs as possible early

This strikes me as a reason to be less aggressive, not more. So long as you're getting your money in with the best of it, it shouldn't matter too much. In this case, the hand was already heads-up. When Hero completes with a Jack in the door, he is representing Jacks. When the other guy raises, he is saying that he has Jacks beaten. If Hero now comes over the top, he's basically representing Aces. I think that the deception in smooth calling has real value, and they're both going to the river anyway.

My copy of 7CS4AP is over 1000 miles away just now, but it seems to me that they say that, specifically, (A[img]/forums/images/icons/spade.gif[/img] 3[img]/forums/images/icons/spade.gif[/img]) 3[img]/forums/images/icons/club.gif[/img] is playable for a full bet, but whether you should make it a full bet yourself is debatable. I think they also say that if you have a hand and a re-raise will get it heads-up with a pair smaller than Aces, you should re-raise. This hand is already heads-up. There is no point in re-raising with a split pair of Deuces in the bring-in's position. I'm not saying I've never seen it done, but it would be a poor play, in my opinion. In any case, I maintain that a large buried pair is far more likely than split Deuces in this instance.

[Graham]

The more I've thought about it, the happier I am with my actions through the hand. Well, the result makes it better.

I wonder, though, whether check-raising 4th and lead betting 5th might have been sensible. I was half worried in the back of my skull about trip 2's, so if I got popped on 5th after C-R'ing 4th, then I could release the hand. Is that a valid idea if you don't know the opponent?

At the time I hadn't actually thought of MRBAA's point about trip 2's being less likely 'cos of his 3rd reraise.

Anyway, thanks for all comments, folks.

G

(MRBAA: wow, you have players who might reraise with 25/2...I thought the ladbrokes players were my favourites [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ..)

[patrick dicaprio]

as i was reading your post i was going through how i would have played it, and you did exactly what i would have done on every street. i am guessing that you lost the hand, but havent read the results.

in the future you may not want to post the results so quickly, because you may get less responses. i read a post and respond without reading the other responses so it doesnt bother me but i am sure that others dont, and you may prevent someone from responding.

pat

[patrick dicaprio]

i think you have it wrong with some of these plays. firstly if you reraise on third then you are basically giving your hand away. but if you did reraise, then why would you think you could successfully checkraise on fourth? wouldnt your opponent likely take a free card?

also if you reraise on fourth why are you doing it. i think the better play is to reraise on fifth and get an extra half bet in the pot. you shoudl checkraise here even if you are behind and your opponent has two small pair since you are still in good shape to win the hand and the play will turn a profit.

another thing is that i dont think the factors you mention at the end of your post make much difference in how the hand is to be played. for example, virtually no one at this level will notice if you have been stealing with the second highest upcard, and even if they did i dont think it would change the way that it should be played heads up.

Pat

[patrick dicaprio]

well you obviously made the right river play and your thinking on the river is right out of 7CSFAP. I think in these games if you always bet the river heads up with this hand you wouldnt be too far off. in the games i play if you dont have a pair on board you will be called virtually every time by anyone with a pair.

Pat

[Wombat6]

the reason is knock the last player out and win it right there. Or win it with a scare card after you check raise on fourth.

obviously this play wouldnt work here because the boards were practically duplicated. .Another reason to reraise is to encourage him to get himself pot stuck with a second best hand If he continues to play after you check raise on fourth and bet on fifth.

Of course if your opponent is a bad player you might want to let him in (on third) so he can make even bigger mistakes on the later streets. Or to keep the pot small so to blow him out easily on a later street.

remember I said I liked the flat call, check raise, bet, senario.

There is no good reason I can see to slow down with the Ace's heads up because your opponent has shown willingness to play. So slowing down in this case is probably costing you money . And allows you opponent to get card to beat you with at a discount. You are no where near stong enough to slow play with AA in this senario.

this is the reason I ask many questions because in poker you need all the information your opponent is willing to give you. If a small bet can gain me information I need to save or gain a large bet then that half bet is well utilized.

[Wombat6]

even against 2 pr you are not that big of a dog with Live A's however because of the fact that the boards were practically duplicated makes this some what less important but not irrelevant.

however I think you played it rather well over all.

Wombat6

[Wombat6]

because I need a second pair to beat two under pair. but a check raise (if he should bet) could often get two underpair to fold especially dead ones.( again with a dupicated board with isnt nearly as critical or likely) also I dont like his higher suited board. that is why if I miss I check call the river because he is almost surely going to bet even if he misses. If you bet You are so likely to get raised here it isnt funny.

of course I know nothing of these players.

[Andy B]

You are suggesting that a player would re-raise with a split pair of Deuces in the hopes that his opponent, who has raised from an early position himself, would fold for one more bet, getting something like 4:1 on his call. I've never folded in a spot like this, and I can't think of a time that I've ever seen it done. That strikes me as extremely wishful thinking.

[Wombat6]

Ok Ok I capitulate. You should play slowly when your A's are most likely the best hand and speed up when your hand is likely beat.

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Wombat6