Correct play with AQs not too far from money?

mephisto2000 · #1 10-22-2005, 10:21 PM

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (9 handed)

saw flop|saw showdown

MP2 (t3570)
Hero (t12295)
CO (t18638)
Button (t8125)
SB (t11796)
BB (t9520)
UTG (Villain) (t13891)
UTG+1 (t7199)
MP1 (t3377)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
Villain raises to t1800, UTG+1 calls t1800, 2 folds, Hero raises to t6000, 4 folds, Villain calls t4200, UTG+1 folds.

PokerStars $3+0.30, 215 players remaining and 180 get paid. Average stack size is 13k so we're both about average. Two hands prior villain made a 3x PFR with KJo.

I didn't want to push because that I think would smell like a small pair at best since I'm in no danger of getting blinded out. I hoped to be able to push him and the caller of a hand such as the KJo he just showed or a weak ace. Would it have been better to call and then play the flop accordingly?

CardSharpCook · #2 10-22-2005, 10:32 PM

Yeah, calling is better than this kind of raise. You are raising 1/2 your stack. It makes no sense. Push or call. Your choice.

#3 10-22-2005, 10:33 PM

He has to call 3200, and you are putting up half your stack, pretty much pot committing yourself to anything that comes. Also, UTG+1 put in about 1/3 of his stack there, so I am very suprised he didn't call your bet there. I would have either pushed or folded, betting half your stack isn't very pratical here.

Since it's suited, I'd probably push, if it was unsuited, I'd fold.

Dave D · #4 10-22-2005, 10:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t600 (9 handed)

saw flop|saw showdown

MP2 (t3570)
Hero (t12295)
CO (t18638)
Button (t8125)
SB (t11796)
BB (t9520)
UTG (Villain) (t13891)
UTG+1 (t7199)
MP1 (t3377)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
Villain raises to t1800, UTG+1 calls t1800, 2 folds, Hero raises to t6000, 4 folds, Villain calls t4200, UTG+1 folds.

PokerStars $3+0.30, 215 players remaining and 180 get paid. Average stack size is 13k so we're both about average. Two hands prior villain made a 3x PFR with KJo.

I didn't want to push because that I think would smell like a small pair at best since I'm in no danger of getting blinded out. I hoped to be able to push him and the caller of a hand such as the KJo he just showed or a weak ace. Would it have been better to call and then play the flop accordingly?

[/ QUOTE ]

I call this and see what the flop brings. You don't want the pot too big too fast with this hand. You also want to let yourself get away easy on a bad flop. Bascially, you know it's going to be just you and him to the flop, and you have position, so the raise is pretty useless, except to make a pot bigger than you want, when you don't have a superfantastic hand.

I'd also call here with AA/KK/QQ/AK and probably JJ/TT though that sorta depends on how I feel about the tourney. This is so villian doesn't put me on any of those hands.

McMelchior · #5 10-22-2005, 10:43 PM

Any reads on villain? Do you have reason to believe you're ahead here - that is you are up against worse Aces or lower non-pair?

If you do you probably should push. What's your plan if you miss the flop - which you will 2/3 of the time? Investing half of your chips and having to fold 2/3 of the time if the OR shows aggression is not a good strategy.

If you don't think you're ahead just call to see the flop, or fold - which is perfectly legitimate with AQs against an unknown raiser and an unknown caller.

Best,

McMelchior (Johan)

#6 10-22-2005, 10:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Bascially, you know it's going to be just you and him to the flop, and you have position, so the raise is pretty useless, except to make a pot bigger than you want, when you don't have a superfantastic hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, there were already 2 in before him, and if he calls, some of the others might call also getting good odds on some different hands. If I was bb with 89s or 22, I'd call and see if I can hit it big getting more than 1:5 on a call (6300 in the pot, 1200 more to call).

I see nothing wrong with raising, but if you are going to raise, all in is the way to go.