Ax from the blinds

[msk]

I am playing in a generally pretty passive game, there aren't a lot
of situations which are too complex. But here is one which bothers me:

I have A3 in the BB or A7 in the SB, for instance. I see the flop free or
for one chip. The flop is something like A94r, for instance. Not too well
coordinated, maybe 2-3 other players, I am first. Since no one raised
pre-flop, the A is good for me, but I might also lose too much by playing
it too hard: I lot of these players *will* play any A.

What's a good plan once the A drops on the flop?
I have a plan which I use about 80% of the time, not sure it is good.

tia,

Mark

[msk]

I usually checkraise (90% of the time gets bet no matter what, so I am not
giving free cards). If I get reraised, I fold. If it does get called, I
generally bet out on the turn no matter what. And fold to a raise. In fact,
if my checkraise gets called on the flop, I will bet out (and fold to a raise)
on the turn no matter what. And bet and then call unless something
extraordinary hits the river....

Mark

[SoBeDude]

The problem with Ax, is since others are playing it as well, your kicker becomes important.

whether you paid half a bet or a full bet preflop is insignificant to spending 2.5 BBs pushing your ace-bad kicker to the river, only to find your A3 is beat by the other guys' A4 through AK.

If he has some kicker less than a queen, he's probably not going to raise you, he'll just call you down.

You need to be careful. I think your strategy will lose you a lot of money.

If I pair an ace on the board, rest assured I have at least a decent kicker 85% of the time.

If I have a naked ace and an ace flops, if I bet the turn and get called, I check it down to the river after that.
I'd usually check the flop, and if checked around, bet the turn.

-Scott

[msk]

Scott,

thanks. I will play A with a good kicker 85% of the time too, it is why I
specifically mention the blinds, that's where betting this out and playing
against a bad player who keeps (let's say) A5o from the middle can lose
a lot; but then should I check and fold to a bet where the bettor might
have anything?

That seems bad too.

I checkraise to try to see where I am. A player with a good hand will
hopefully reraise, then I can fold and smile. But then maybe I should not
bet the turn? Hm, that seems like giving a lot of free cards. Maybe the
point is to check the river just in case....????

Confused still.

Mark

[Vehn]

Unless my table image was super bluffy, if that's a word, my default play is check/call, check/call, bet. If it is (and is sometimes), I just bet and expect someone to call me down with middle pair or worse.

Checkraising the flop is terrible IMO.

[Ulysses]

Small field, I usually bet.

Large field, I usually check-call, though I'll often fold if the wrong players call a flop bet - it means they have an Ace and they definitely have me outkicked.

I never checkraise in this situation w/ Ace-weak. All it does is eliminate the bottom pairs and keep the bigger Aces in. On the other hand, if it's something like Q3/J3 on a Q/J-high flop, I'm very likely to checkraise a late bettor to get the Kings and Aces out of the way.

[rigoletto]

Hi Scott

You have to bet top pair on the flop (or checkraise if you're sure a late player will bet his middle pair/draw/bluff). Checking the flop and letting everybody draw free is only likely to put you in a worse spot on the turn. Say you bet out on the turn after a checkround and somebody raises, what now? did he slow play a monster? did he just catch 2 pair on the turn? Is he betting middle pair heavily after the checked flop?).

Let me ask you this: will you call the flop for one bet? Of course you would, so bet out instead, the odds are that you have the best hand.

[rigoletto]

Bet the flop, bet the turn, usually check the river. Don't stop until you're raised. I know it's frustrating when these passive player's show down AT, AJ etc, but a lot of times a flop bet and/or a turn bet wins you the pot, not to mention the times where you can showdown the best hand.

[SoBeDude]

This is a tough spot.

I should have said I sometimes bet the flop, but always bet the turn if the flop checks around.

I will NOT bet my naked ace from the blinds into 3 or more players. I'm almost guaranteed someone has a better ace than I.

I fold to a checkraise on the turn. Do you really think this is a mistake?

-Scott

[SoBeDude]

Wow my personal experience has really given me trouble with paying off with second-best pair of aces.

Yoo many people will just call when their ATo catches an ace on the flop and they're bet in to.

If I have AJ-A9o and I'm bet in to by the blinds, I'll call the flop and turn bet. If I don't improve but the board doesn't pair or show a possible flush, then I'll bet/raise the river.

I find this the best way to make the money off the silly naked-ace players, and there are plenty. It also doesn't cost me a fortune if I'm beat.

-Scott