AQ and A High Flop

This hand comes from a late night 4-8 game at the Muckleshoot casino outside Seattle. Surprising to those who live elsewhere, Seattle area games can be tight affairs even in the wee hours. I arrived at 8PM and it took me until about midnight to find a game (3-6, 4-8 or 6-12--tried them all) that had at least 4 loose players. At the time of this hand my table is pretty good. But this hand featured tight me and one other tightie.


I open raise in middle position with AcQd. Folded to the button who 3 Bets. Blinds fold.


Flop is A 8 2 rainbow. I bet, button raises.


What is your plan for the flop and turn, assuming the turn is the 6, completing the rainbow?


What is your plan for the river--a K?


Thanks.


KJS

Assuming the button plays tight, his preflop 3-bet is legitimate and not an attempt to isolate you with a less-than-premium hand. I would put him on AA,KK,QQ,JJ, or AK. When popped on the flop it looks like you are up against A-K. I would call and take a card off. If the turn is a blank, I would probably check and fold if he bets. But I would only do this with a player I knew exremely well to be tight and not capable of making fancy moves.

Jim,


My tight play stands out like a sore thumb in a 4-8 game. This guy knew that I was only raising with legitimate hands, so I thought there little chance he was trying to isolate me. That said, I also make many proper folds that others in my games will not, so I felt a bit curious that he was only using position to try to move me off a hand like AQ. For that reason I took off two cards--I check-called the turn. When I checked the river and he bet again, I folded. I am pretty sure I was beat but wanted to see if giving him the idea that I was going all the way would get me a free showdown. Washington games are famously passive and oftentimes a call is scary enough to slow someone down. When the K hit and he bet again, I thought my fold was pretty easy.


Maybe I played one street too long.


Thanks for the comments.


KJS

The aggressiveness of your opponent dictates weather you fold on preflop, flop, turn, river or end. There is no one answer.