$55: AJs - Play a TPTK Hand That's a Disaster with a Non-Master

downtown · #1 11-30-2005, 12:43 PM

This was a tough hand for me. Line check, if you please on the following:
1) pre-flop
2) flop
3) flop, facing a c/r and cold-caller

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

SB (t1295)
BB (t1330)
UTG (t1540)
UTG+1 (t785)
MP1 (t1110)
MP2 (t835)
Hero (t895)
CO (t890)
Button (t1320)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, UTG+1 calls t50, MP1 calls t50, 1 fold, Hero calls t50, CO calls t50, Button calls t50, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t350) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (7 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets t200, CO raises to t400, Button calls t400, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, Hero calls t200.

Turn: (t1550) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets t445 (All-In)

durron597 · #2 11-30-2005, 12:49 PM

If the limpers are loose and not tricky I would push preflop. 175 chips without showdown sounds appealing and I don't want to see this flop 7 ways with my stack size.

#3 11-30-2005, 12:49 PM

Pre flop i would be raising to get marginal hands out with AJs or maybe even pushing to take the 175 already in the pot.

Post flop seems ok, though maybe a higher bet to get rid of the TONS of draws on this board and once you are raised in this limped pot you should know you are most likely drawing to a non diamond ace if not completely dead.

You are pot-committed on the turn...i think it is a good push here with TPTK, but i think you are beat here more often than not....reload/reenter.

downtown · #4 11-30-2005, 12:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If the limpers are loose and not tricky I would push preflop. 175 chips without showdown sounds appealing and I don't want to see this flop 7 ways with my stack size.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't have a good enough read to read the limpers as loose and not tricky. Of course if I want to raise, I would tend to agree that all-in would be better than not. It just seems like too much with AJs though; AQs I would feel much more comfortable with.

zambonidrivr · #5 11-30-2005, 01:00 PM

any arguements for folding preflop? given the # players in the hand, how hard would the flop need to hit to go forward for your stack. There are a lot of holdings that beat you here. I vote for shoving preflop or folding.

Melchiades · #6 11-30-2005, 01:03 PM

After CO minraises and the button cold calls, I'm done with this hand. CO minraises half his stack here. He isn't going anywhere.

downtown · #7 11-30-2005, 01:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
any arguements for folding preflop? given the # players in the hand, how hard would the flop need to hit to go forward for your stack. There are a lot of holdings that beat you here. I vote for shoving preflop or folding.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think if I knew that there would be limpers behind me or of course if I acted after them, I would push/fold it. Of course, my call gives those limpers better odds, but I think if I presented the hand like this...:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

SB (t1295)
BB (t1330)
UTG (t1540)
UTG+1 (t785)
MP1 (t1110)
MP2 (t835)
Hero (t895)
CO (t890)
Button (t1320)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, UTG+1 calls t50, MP1 calls t50, 1 fold, Hero ????

... fewer responses would advocate a push here. In many ways, this hand does remind me of those play a hand with the masters hands in MTT, as the first few streets could go a different way.

zambonidrivr · #8 11-30-2005, 01:06 PM

you are raising with a marginal hand as well. i think pushing is a much better option

#9 11-30-2005, 01:25 PM

I'm limping preflop. Isn't pushing AJs with ~18BBs a bit stretched? Four players yet to act after hero too..

#10 11-30-2005, 01:28 PM

Ditto. I'm most worried about button here smooth calling a set. Too many limpers for that to not be a serious possibility... or just someone being cute with QQ.

Chuck it.

The question is preflop though. Limbing AJs seems fine of course, but went to [censored] with the callers behind you. If blinds are scheduled to go up before your next posting, push it.