AA flops quads
 

I usually play cash games, and some SNGs online.
But once a week I play at a local club.
Between 25-40 people, and payouts to the top three.
Buyin 100+20 NKR (=20$).
8 people at the table when this hand came up, and still 25-30 people left in total.
Blinds 75/150.
My stack is about 3700
Hero picks up AA UTG.
I raise 300.
Ive been playing very TAG, my raises get too much respect, so I was worried it would be folded around the table if I raised more.
Two callers, one in MP(about 3000) and one in BB(about 7000).
MP is difficult to pin down but not too bad I guess, BB is laggy.
Pot: 975.
Flop: AAx.
And I almost fall out of my chair (metaphorically).
I bet 200 - a bet I hope will be seen as weak stealing attempt.
Do you sometimes do this with your monsters?
Or should I just check and hope the lag goes crazy?

In my opinion, a check-call here conveys more strength from a tight player than a weak bet.

Re: AA flops quads
 

You have the board locked so a check will look like at least a single ace to your opponents, maybe KK. Your opponents likely have drawing hands. You need to appear to be making a probe bet here with a pocket pair, and have someone else buy that. 200 is probably just a little weak. In this situation, I like to bet about a 1/3 of the pot. If I get a caller, then I check to them to appear like I've given up on the hand. Depending on their bet, I'll either take a longish (but not insanely long) time to call and then make a blocking style bet on the river and hope they read it as that unless they've already pot committed themselves. What you want to appear like you have is TT-KK and give them hope that they can take this pot away from you with air (unless they hit their boat somewhere along the line).

Re: AA flops quads
 

An annoying side note with this hand:
There was an extra prize that particular night.
The best hand in the tournament that went to a showdown
would get 500NKR deposited to an account on the poker site that sponsors the tournament.

I.e. I should just have check-called the hand down.
Instead, everyone folded to my lousy 200 bet.
[censored].

And [censored] bloody side prizes like that, that messes up proper strategy.

Re: AA flops quads
 

I'd check this everytime, but unfortunately I don't see these guys making any big bets w/ 2 aces out there. The only problem in checking is that will immediately draw attention to you because 90% of people that flop a set or better of Aces will check. So maybe a little $200 probe bet might make them raise. Especially if they caught the X card.

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]
An annoying side note with this hand:
There was an extra prize that particular night.
The best hand in the tournament that went to a showdown
would get 500NKR deposited to an account on the poker site that sponsors the tournament.

I.e. I should just have check-called the hand down.
Instead, everyone folded to my lousy 200 bet.
[censored].

And [censored] bloody side prizes like that, that messes up proper strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd check it down too. What does NKR mean?

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]

I'd check it down too. What does NKR mean?

[/ QUOTE ]

Norske Kroner, the norwegian currency.

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]
An annoying side note with this hand:
There was an extra prize that particular night.
The best hand in the tournament that went to a showdown
would get 500NKR deposited to an account on the poker site that sponsors the tournament.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well gee, there's your answer! With a monster like this, I think it'll be hard to get any money out of the hand no matter what you do. Any aggression from you will most likely fold everyone else. It's very easy to put you on a AK or AQ and you know they don't have an ace. I probably check all the way and pray that someone catches a hand or tries to bluff. If you check (even on the river), they may convince themselves that you have KK-TT and you're trying to get to showdown cheap. Maybe you can induce a bluff.

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]

Well gee, there's your answer!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well duh, I know!
But if you IGNORE the side prize,
Im not so sure it always will be correct to check it down.

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I'd check it down too. What does NKR mean?

[/ QUOTE ]

Norske Kroner, the norwegian currency.

[/ QUOTE ]


sincee that 500nkr bonus thing, i'd check it down definitely... that's 5x buyins..

but normallly i'd bet out weakish..

you took the lead preflop it looks wierd when you don't follow through.

By checking you're really hoping that someone hits one of two cards that pays you off (i.e. they fill up) i'd rather bet weak and hope they ense it a make a move.

but i'm more likely to check the higher up my quads are... so aces i'd guess i'd mix it up 50/50 weak betting/checking.

Re: AA flops quads
 

You're unlikely to make any money on this hand unless someone catches or you induce a bluff. You almost have to check and give them a chance to do so.

Also, your min-raise from UTG + 1/5 pot bet on the flop screams strength, especially if your image is what you think it is.

Re: AA flops quads
 

It's very hard to make money in this situation no matter what you do, but I would check the flop, regardless of how suspicious it looks. It's simply too tough to get someone to make a move on you with this board; your only hope is that they catch up.

Re: AA flops quads
 

You need to check this twice.

-Scott

Re: AA flops quads
 

Consensus seems to be check it down,
no matter how dodgy it looks.

Care to defend/elaborate on your line 37?

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]
But if you IGNORE the side prize,
Im not so sure it always will be correct to check it down.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed, but in this situation it's hard to figure that there's a close second-best hand out there with a board of A-A-x.

A few months ago, my cousin was playing $1-2 NL at the Borgata in Atlantic City. He had KK and caught a set on the flop. He bet out, got lots of action, and improved to quads on the turn. He got all-in, tripled up, and was up $300 for the night. He was able to bet out in this hand since he knew the others had hands they liked. But with your flop, I think you really need people to catch up (or not believe that you hold the nuts).

Re: AA flops quads
 

Hmm, the more I think about it the more checking it down seems almost compulsory. If I called a reraise on the flop there would be no more betting I think.

Re: AA flops quads
 

[ QUOTE ]
You're unlikely to make any money on this hand unless someone catches or you induce a bluff. You almost have to check and give them a chance to do so.

Also, your min-raise from UTG + 1/5 pot bet on the flop screams strength, especially if your image is what you think it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

I dunno, a check is definitely a lot more scary then a 1/5 pot bet.

Personally I'd bet like 1/3 pot which I hope they pick up as a weak probing bet. 1/3 pot bet looks very much like you have a PP smaller than ace and you're trying to gauge where you stand.

If anyone calls, then you check/call turn, lead river. If hand gets checked on turn, you should lead river. I think this is a good line that exemplifies the most probing/weakness from you.

Re: AA flops quads
 

If your opponents are any good at all (and think you're any good at all), they're thinking that your tiny flop bet is a trap. Either check (hoping they think you're scared of the Aces) or bet 1/2 the pot (appearing like a standard continuation bet).

I lean towards checking, although you're sure to get called by anyone holding a pocket pair.

Re: AA flops quads
 

Two words ....

SLOWPLAY!

Any opponent in the hand is drawing dead. You have to give them a reason to stay in the hand and make a donation. Give em' a couple of free cards and hope they get unlucky and make a boat by the river.

I check the flop, check the turn and then decide to check or bet the river based upon the cards that come and the likelihood that something caught my opponent solidly.

It sounds like a paradox here, but in this case you are hoping for an opponent who is smart, but not too smart. A top player will know enough to be wary and probably won't dump too many chips on this scary board. Strangely enough, so will a complete idiot.

However some people will think they are just "smart" enough to "steal" this one away from you. IMHO, this is who you hope to get as an opponent in this kind of situation.