Shorthanded O8 good cards, bad players...

Glenn · #1 01-02-2003, 06:47 PM

6 handed game. Me, one excellent player, an unknown, and a bunch of whack jobs.

I pick up

[Ad 2d As 6s]

in the cutoff. Folds to the maniac to my right who raises, I reraise, calling station on the button calls 3 cold, blinds fold. Pot = 10.5 SB.

Flop [3h 2c 9h]...Maniac bets out. What's the plan?

beernutz · #2 01-03-2003, 02:43 AM

Bet and hope the maniac raises and the calling station decides not to call 2 cold? I think you're better off heads up with this hand so whatever you can do to clear the field is probably to your benefit.

(just an opinion)

beetman · #3 01-03-2003, 06:26 AM

You probably have the best low draw and have a reasonable shot at high. Your high hand is vulnerable so it needs protection. I see two options:

1) Raise the flop. I would expect the calling station to call 2 cold with god knows what, but if you knock him out, at least the hand will be easier to play.

2) Call on the flop with the intention of raising the turn, depending on what hits. I wouldn't raise if a heart hit because you can't really fold to a reraise, and maniacs can and will reraise even with small flushes.

A raise on the turn may have more leverage than a raise on the flop, and it may have a better chance of knocking out the calling station on the button if he/she has something lame like a small flush draw or a 3.

Buzz · #4 01-03-2003, 09:17 AM

Glenn - You had a beautiful starting hand, but really caught no piece of this flop. Your low is counterfeited and even though your opponents are whack jobs, one of them could easily have A4XX, A5XX, 45XX, 99XX, and/or a heart draw, maybe just 3h2h. (Whackos seem to love to play baby flush draws).

I'd bail out. Fold and wait for a better opportunity. Doing anything else is overplaying your aces.

Just my opinion.

Buzz

beernutz · #5 01-03-2003, 05:52 PM

"Whackos seem to love to play baby flush draws"

Isn't that the truth. At Party in a 3-6 game the other day a new guy on the table raises then caps with 2 3 4 6 (with 2 3 4 hearts!) with about 6 callers and though he gets no help on the flop, scoops a monster on a runner runner 9 high flush.