Foxwoods 20-40: Proceeding Cautiously With AKs

[Dynasty]

I was at Foxwoods this weekend and put in a heavy scheudle for me (35 hours in 4+ days). I spent a lot of the time playing "casual" poker which I don't do much of in Las Vegas. That meant a lot of 10-20 stud and 1-2 No Limit.

But, I did spend all of Saturday night playing the 20-40 game. This is one of the more interesting hands I had.

The hand:

On a table filled with the whiniest regulars I've ever met, the least whiny limped UTG (Irish Mike or something). There were a couple folds to a fairly aggressive MP Woman who raised. One LMP player called and then the Cutoff 3-bet. The Cutoff didn't have exceptionally tight raising standards. But, I hadn't seen him 3-bet more than twice before. I, of course, am the tightest player at the table.

I had A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] on the button and decided to call the three bets. Both Blinds and the UTG limper folded. As the UTG player folded, he flashed his cards to another regular. I thought (but wasn't 100% sure) I saw the A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in his hand. His friends said "that's no good". So A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]x[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] seems to be a very likey holding.


The MP Woman and LMP called. Four players see the flop with 14.5 small bets in the pot.

The flop is: J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

It gets checked to the Cutoff 3-bettor and he auto-bets. Usually, this is an instant raise. But, I decided to just call and see what happens. The MP Woman called and the LMP folded. Three players see the turn with 8.75 big bets in the pot.

The turn is: J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

I don't even have the nuts. MP Woman checks and the Cutoff bets again. I raised. The MP Woman thought for a good 10-15 seconds before eventually calling. Cutoff called quickly. Three players see the river with 14.75 big bets in the pot.

The river is: J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

Both players checked to me and I bet. My tight player image drew a couple shallow "ooooh"s from players not in the hand.

[hockey1]

This looks pretty standard to me. 4-betting preflop wouldn't be a mistake, nor would raising the flop, but I actually prefer the line you took.

[Luke]

Glad to see you posting in the strategy forums Dynasty.

I kind of like your preflop play as it masks your a hand a little if nothing else and allows you to see if anyone else caps.

But any particular reason you didn't raise the flop? Were you going to raise the turn unimproved?

And happy birthday...

Luke

[Barry]

[ QUOTE ]
On a table filled with the whiniest regulars I've ever met,

[/ QUOTE ]
He had LAG Cabby and and weak/tight grumpy John at the table with him. I'm surprised he didn't mention the number of deck and setup changes that he had to endure.

[ QUOTE ]
I, of course, am the tightest player at the table

[/ QUOTE ]

Nick M was also at the table, so it was close between the 2 of you as to the tightest player.

It was good to see you Saturday.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think that Dynasty's line here is fine as well, but I disagree with you that calling three cold masks his hand. For many players, this telegraphs AK.

RH

[skp]

Preflop: Standard play is to cap but coldcalling ain't far off the mark. It puts you in good relative position when you flop an Ace or King. It puts you in bad relative psoition when you flop just overcards. How you choose to play preflop may well depnd on the tenacity of your opponents' postflop play with a medium pocket pair.

There are a bunch of other considerations as well. You could argue either postion till you are blue in the face.

I like the flop call although the decision is once again very close given that you know that one Ace is dead (which makes it less likely that you will hit an Ace and more likely that the preflop 3 bettor has a pocket pair - which perhaps has now become a set - rather than a big Ace).

Turn and river are obvious.

At the end of the day, IMO one couldn't possibly play your hand incorrectly (or perhaps even suboptimally) from start to finish.

[onegymrat]

Hi Dynasty,

[ QUOTE ]
Usually, this is an instant raise. But, I decided to just call and see what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

And if the woman or LMP had check-raised, how would that change your play?

[casinogosain]

I think that just calling on the button here pretty much declares that you have AKs, but I like it anyway. I think it allows you to see if any of the others will cap it.

After that, I think I would raise the flop, but I guess that those that didn't already know what I was holding would figure it out pretty quickly.

Given that you just called the flop, would you raise any turn card? Or just a [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K, or A?

Finally, is it within these players' abilities to bluff check-raise this river?

If I had to guess, I would say the river action after your bet was fold, fold.

-Ash

[bernie]

Good to see ya back on the strategy side.

Why not cap preflop?

Were you planning on c/r'ing the turn regardless of what hit?

[ QUOTE ]
On a table filled with the whiniest regulars I've ever met

[/ QUOTE ]

I think games in general are getting a little whinier.

[ QUOTE ]
Both players checked to me and I bet. My tight player image drew a couple shallow "ooooh"s from players not in the hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

This easily confirms their image of you being tight.

b

[slavic]

Dynasty -

I like your line. I really like your cold call preflop, but would you do the same thing with KK or AA? Do you ditch AQs?