A steal attempt gets messed with.

[britspin]

I'm not good at stealing- and I'm terrible at dealing with resistance when I try it.

Limit $1/$2. Table has just dropped to 5 handed out of 10. I'm button with A3o.

I'm running pokertracker for first time ever- BB is decent player and been playing a lot of hands, stats something like VPIP 31/15, but has been running good in the 75 hands I've seen and I'm not picking up maniac vibes. I've not stolen at all in the session.

It's folded round to me, and I think this is a good spot for a steal attempt (but you know, I'm winging it- should I be stealing?). I raise. SB and BB call. Bother. Now I have to play.

Flop comes A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Checked to me. Good. I bet. SB and BB call. Pot is 3BB.

Turn 3 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Checked to me SB folds, BB raises.

OK. I've made two pair, I'm loving the hand until the C/R. I've been having bad experiences with turn C/R's recently, so may well be suffering for MUBS, but what do we do here? call, 3-bet?

[Eeegah]

Raising with A3o in that situation is almost a value raise as much as a steal [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

We've got two pair here, and no real idea of what BB could have. We do know that the only hands we're behind here are 88, 25, 44 and 33 (maybe even discount 88 if he'd 3-bet that); 33 is even less likely since we have one. My guess is that he either hit a lower two pair or is pulling a desperation bluff to fend off your steal-turned-monster; I'd 3-bet his ass in the hopes that he folds it, to reduce the risk of the board pairing and counterfeiting us. If he caps, call down if you don't boat up on the river.

[aK13]

I would 3bet that [censored].

EDIT: Another option is to call and raise the river, but I like 3betting more still.

[britspin]

Results

Phew-

I 3-bet, he called. River blanked, he led out and I called down. He showed A4.

Just variance then, not poor play? Good. I've been turn C/R a lot recently, so may be getting skittish.

[lionhorse]

Thinking about the range of hands he can have, there's a good chance (if he's tricky), that BB is trying to get you to think he was slowplaying the flop. In fact, he may well have been, with a better kicker than yours, which is now reverse dominated.

I'd go with a 3-bet, check-calling on the river to a cap, or else lead out on the river, consider check-calling a 3rd diamond. I think there's a very good chance you have the best hand at this point, I am not too worried about 25.

[MATT111]

[ QUOTE ]
Raising with A3o in that situation is almost a value raise as much as a steal [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

We've got two pair here, and no real idea of what BB could have. We do know that the only hands we're behind here are 88, 25, 44 and 33 (maybe even discount 88 if he'd 3-bet that); 33 is even less likely since we have one. My guess is that he either hit a lower two pair or is pulling a desperation bluff to fend off your steal-turned-monster; I'd 3-bet his ass in the hopes that he folds it, to reduce the risk of the board pairing and counterfeiting us. If he caps, call down if you don't boat up on the river.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about A+ big kicker? I think that`s very likely.

[Eeegah]

[ QUOTE ]
What about A+ big kicker? I think that`s very likely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not an issue unless that kicker gives him a better two pair.

Which it did. Why do I always miss hands that we lose to when looking at these threads?

[deepsquat]

easiest 3bet ever. Many villains will wait til the turn to raise any ace.

[deception5]

You're very often against an ace with a good kicker here (AK-A9).

You played it fine.

[MrWookie47]

[ QUOTE ]
Results

Phew-

I 3-bet, he called. River blanked, he led out and I called down. He showed A4.

Just variance then, not poor play? Good. I've been turn C/R a lot recently, so may be getting skittish.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice hand. Poker sucks. Make a note on the guy. Don't let results skew you from making the best play.