Playing Ace-rag from big blind.

wyrd · #1 07-19-2005, 05:11 PM

I normally don't play Ace-rag unless it's a free look from the big blind. I always seem to lose with them. I don't even like playing AT. Anyway, I get them often enough, so I need to ask how to play them properly. Here's an example hand. Please critique my play. I'll post the final results later.

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
2 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO calls, Da calls, 1 fold, Hero checks.

Flop: (6.40 SB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (6 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 folds, CO calls.

Turn: (5.20 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (5 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, MP2 folds, CO calls.

River: (8.20 BB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, CO checks.

Final Pot: 8.20 BB

Thanks for your time.

#2 07-19-2005, 05:12 PM

Couldn't be any more standard than that.

2+2 Junkie · #3 07-19-2005, 05:16 PM

I have to say pretty normal play here, but want to know why you checked the river? Were all the people calling making you think you were outkicked?

MrWookie47 · #4 07-19-2005, 05:16 PM

The alternative on the flop is to check and see what happens: raise a LP bet or call an EP bet. Betting out is a decent plan, too.

I assume you were calling a river bet?

Nice hand.

Edit: 2+2 Junkie is right. There may some value in a river bet, depending on your read of the villains. Are they willing to show down less that top pair? The tighter they are, though, the better checking is.

wyrd · #5 07-19-2005, 05:17 PM

Should I have bet on the river? My thought was I got two callers down to the river, at least one should have an Ace, so I can't be feeling too good about my piddly 6 kicker at that point.

wyrd · #6 07-19-2005, 05:19 PM

Yes, I planned on check calling, didn't want to get raised with what I consider a mediocre hand at this point.

irishpint · #7 07-19-2005, 05:19 PM

bet the river- its .25/.50 and people will call down with lots of crap. you better get comfortable with AT since it's a raise for me from every position (depends from BB).

GTSamIAm · #8 07-19-2005, 05:21 PM

Bet the river. If you knew someone late might bet, you could go for a check-raise.

car ramrod · #9 07-19-2005, 05:26 PM

since when is top pair a mediocre hand?
Bet that river for value...

wyrd · #10 07-19-2005, 05:35 PM

Please critique these two hands as well.

1st Hand:

Reads: UTG is loose and aggressive, but usually gives up if initial raise doesn't work and calls down. However, UTG constantly raises when he has a hand.

The flush possibility on the board scared me, but I bet anyway. If anyone raised I'm honestly not sure what I would have done. Fold to any raise?

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, 6 folds, BB checks.

Flop: (3.40 SB) K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (3.20 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

River: (6.20 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB folds, UTG folds.

Final Pot: 7.20 BB

2nd Hand:

Reads: Button is the same aggressive player from above. I decided to call this raise given the amount of callers preflop. Not sure if that was the right decision. Also, I don't think I played the turn correctly. I'm mostly concerned about my turn play in this hand.

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
1 fold, UTG+1 raises, MP1 calls, 3 folds, Button calls, Hero calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (9 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets, MP1 calls, Button calls, Hero raises, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, Button calls.

Turn: (8.50 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets, MP1 calls, Button calls, Hero calls.

River: (12.50 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero bets, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, Button folds.

Final Pot: 15.50 BB