Bet big and win now or bet small and try to win more later

[Louie Landale]

I've got some doubts about routinely betting a whole bunch right away and winning the pot now with a strong hand, rather than betting less and hoping to get called figuring to win more later. Some situations:

[1] UTG calls, EP raises, and you have AA on the button. Move in?

[2] UTG raises, and you call in BB with 88. Flop is 842. Check-raise all in?

Not sure what the criteria is for this decision, but suspect that one overriding factor is whether you fear an all-in bet by the opponent that you are tempted to call. Thus, "slow playing" isn't going to lose you all your stack.

Thoughts?

- Louie

[Kaz The Original]

Lead 3 bet for the flopped set. With any luck he has an overpair.

[DrPublo]

You cannot possibly answer question [1] without stack sizes.

I think the answer, as always, is "it depends".

The Doc

[PokerFink]

Situation one varies so much on stack sizes and game texture that it can't really be answered.

In situation two, if you think your opponent has an overpair, lead into him, let him raise, and I would checkraise the turn.

[Louie Landale]

This reply sounds like only bet as much as he WILL call, as opposed to the "standard" bet so much that he's making a big mistake to call, and knows it.

[Louie Landale]

Depends on what stack sizes. Are you saying if its real deep then AA isn't worth very much since you are going to raise so much only an idiot or KK will call?

[creedofhubris]

Answer to #1 depends on how big the stacks are. Depends on how much your opponents are going to get married to an overpair. Depends on how likely you are to get married to AA yourself.

Example 2, I would almost never check-raise all-in on the flop. That flop is as clear an invitation to slowplay as any I have ever seen. You want the stack, not the pot.