NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

So, I'm trying my hand at no limit, and I'm really really bad. I had been playing really tight preflop, but I decided to "open it up" a bit and play Axs.


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed) converter

Hero ($48.3)
SB ($62.05)
BB ($22.7)
UTG ($30.75)
UTG+1 ($24.5)
MP1 ($43.6)
MP2 ($9.6)
MP3 ($18)
CO ($15.8)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, UTG+1 calls $0.50, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, Hero calls $0.50, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">BB raises to $1.5</font>, UTG calls $1.50, UTG+1 calls $1.50, Hero calls $1.50.

Flop: ($8.25) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">BB bets $5</font>, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $5, Hero calls $46.30 (All-In), BB calls $15.70 (All-In), UTG+1 folds.

Turn: ($80.25) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 2 all-in)</font>

River: ($80.25) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 2 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: $80.25

BB had just sat down, so I had no real reads.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

Err...

I... guess you can call preflop...

Then dump that [censored] when no spades, no two fives, or no two pair hit the flop.

Please... don't ever do this again if you wanna keep your money.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

I dont know what you are talking about with spades, but this seems fine. Normally I won't call a raise with Axs, but once you do, I like the flop play given that he has a short stack.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

By opening it up and playing Axs, you only want to limp. By doing this you're wanting to either flop a flush, four-flush, two pair, or trips (only your kicker). Don't play it past the flop unless you're getting odds to draw to the four-flush, or you flopped the flush, two pair, etc.

On to the specifics of your play.
PF: Fold to the raise.
Flop: $18.25 in the pot when it gets to you. $5 to call here. 3:1 odds on making your flush, call. Don't raise. Don't count on your ace being good here either, unless you backdoor two pair.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

[ QUOTE ]
Err...

I... guess you can call preflop...

Then dump that [censored] when no spades, no two fives, or no two pair hit the flop.

Please... don't ever do this again if you wanna keep your money.

[/ QUOTE ]

So the top pair/no-kicker slash semi-bluff with the nut flush draw = bad idea?

I somehow convinced myself that BB had a pocket pair between AA's and 1010's.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

TWP, so you would advocate the push here as a semi-bluff versus flat-calling?

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

I must have been sleeping when I posted the first time.

Yeah... sorry about that. (I don't know what spades I was thinking of.)

You want to catch two pair, a flush or a flush draw, or 55 on this flop.

I think your move is good with this hand here on the flop. Again, sorry.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

[ QUOTE ]
TWP, so you would advocate the push here as a semi-bluff versus flat-calling?

[/ QUOTE ]
I like it. Because of his short stack, you will have no fold equity on the turn because he will be PCed once he bets. So if you have any fold equity it is now. If you are ahead, there is not much harm because he will probably check/fold the turn anyways. If you are behind, maybe you can get him off an ace if he doesn't have a great kicker (say he has AT or AJ) and even if you can't, this way you are guaranteed to see the river. And you can hit your kicker or the flush to take this pot, most likely. Not a bad move, in my opinion. I would call occasionally, and push occasionally. My decision would in large part depend on the opponent.

As I said though, I would have folded this preflop because he has a short stack. If he were deeper stacked, I would call preflop and I would call on the flop. Part of the reason for doing that is because that is the most likely way I would play a set, too, and I like to play draws similar to how I play sets.

Results
 

BB called my all-in immediately, so I was pretty sure he had AK or maybe AQs.

He turned over a slightly overplayed (IMHO) AJo, and MHING.

Re: NL N00b - A5s on the button
 

limping pre-flop is fine, but you should fold to the raise. you want to play for a very small initial investment so you can have a big pay-off if you make a flush.

post-flop, you played it well. the fact that both villain's had ~24 to start instead of more like 50 makes the push definitely good.