| A-Q suited |
| Introduction: |
| Hand # | Hand | Theme | Game | Date entered |
| 10 | AQs | Preflop: Table Image | Medium Limit | 04-06-2002 |
| Source: This Medium Limit Hold'em hand was posted on a Public
Internet Forum. Several readers contributed to the analysis. Their comments are shown
seperately from Our Hero's comment. The first comment is as always Our Hero's comment. Introduction: I was initially comfortable with my own analysis of this hand but it keeps coming back to me. Your thoughts on this are appreciated. Full 15-30 HE Bellagio couple weeks ago. I haven't observed the game, sit, post in cut-off, AsTs, 1 middle limper, I raise, SB, BB, & limper call, flop comes Qxx no spades, bet & raised to me, I fold. Hand is over on the turn, no show, not much info. I'm usually concerned about my image from the start and find that at these limits, tough players usually come right at me, trying to run me over. Because I'm a young woman or not, I do not know. Anyway, I know that others noticed I didn't put up any fight on the flop. I'm already trying to size up the SB, he is on my left, with the biggest stack, is young, and looks serious, I imagine he's fairly aggressive...yes, this is about as general as it gets but you've got to start somewhere. |
| I've booked only about 100 hours at the Bellagio 15/30, but it seems
everyone is always trying to run everyone over, regardless of whether the target is a
young woman, young man, old woman, old man, farm animal, extraterrestrial life form.... It's good to be concerned about your image. It's bad to think someone is going to bluff-raise against two opponents because of your (i.e. you alone) image. |
| I am dealt AdQd, early limper, mid limper, I raise, BB (big stack described above) & limpers call.    Flop: K7x -rag is d -check to me, I bet -BB raises, all fold to me -I 3 bet |
| I think he'll lay down less than a K on turn & I still have outs |
| As for the 3bet on the flop, it's agressive and risky, but if you're
pretty certain he doesn't have a king, it's fine -- excepty you have to follow through on
the turn... a king for you is practically your dream card (arguably even more than an ace,
which could easily give him two pair). If you raise and get reraised, you fold - if you
raise and get called, you get position on the river with a great draw that you know would
win. Of course, if you're uncertain about your read, you should have been out after the checkraise. |
| First, it's important to recognize that he probably is not on a cold steal because there are two players between you and him. Unless there is a flush draw there (you didn't say), he probably has a K, a 7, an "x", maybe a pocket pair. So, you have nut no pair and two backdoor nut draws, so calling is reasonable getting 11:1. If calling is reasonable, so is taking command and 3-betting representing AA or AK. This is especially true if you are correct and your opponents think of you as some timid, passive girl. |
| BB calls |
| he slowed up, blank on turn and I'm hoping he'll check fold |
 Turn: Kd -BB bets into me |
| Ok, bs, now I really think he has a small pair, no K, since I think he would go for another checkraise or check-call until the river to keep me around. My brain is screaming..."You have AK, RAISE!!!" He should release his hand if a non-K and I also have picked up many outs, A, Q and most diamonds. But I don't follow my own advice and... |
| Right. But be aware he may have a JJ-88/A7s/K7s sort of hand where he now figures he has the best despite you 3-betting him on the flop. And it's a freeroll from his point of view -- even if he's not the best, the card prevents you from raising if you don't have a king. Still, raising again is definitely correct, with as many as 12 outs, and it prevents you from getting bluffed on the river if it comes an airball and it turns out he really was just messing with you. This is very important. |
| In my opinion, a good player will do this whether they have the king or not. He's putting the pressure on you. You either must fold or raise. You have nothing. Calling is absolutely, totally wrong. |
| Our Hero picked up the nut flush draw with the Kd. Calling is +ev. Raising might be more +ev. Only folding is absolutely, totally wrong. |
| I CALL |
| d'oh, now I have to make a hand, I hate that! |
 River: off suit blank |
| That's what I get for not raising the turn! |
| Check Check |
| It's too late now, he'll call with any pair |
  Showdown: BB = 7,8 Me: sigh...muck |
| Conclusion: Now I'm all pissed at myself for not raising the
turn since my read was right and I think I could've taken it without a showdown. The more
I think about it though, I might be going about this hand all wrong. Pick a better spot
for this play? Just wait until the flop hit me and trap him? Well, I should be getting
some good action on my future hands. :) I was a little annoyed with myself though and took
a seat change to his immediate left shortly after. BB was winning many pots and I decided
I would be better off at another table, got a table change and went on to have a nice
evening. How would you have played it? |
| If you are going to bluff you have to follow it through to the river. Our Hero knew her AQ wasn't good on the flop but was willing to 3 bet it, so has to keep it going. The face that the other player checked the river showed he was willing to go to a showdown thinking he may be behind. |
| IMO, your analysis is dead on. You choked; it happens. When you say: Pick a better spot for this play? Just wait until the flop hit me and trap him? ...you have to understand that if your assessment about your image is correct, they will not give you action when you have a hand. If you have a timid image, steal. If you have a wild image, bet and raise for value. This is pretty basic, fundamental stuff we can agree on, right? |
| You're correct in saying "I might be going about this hand all wrong." You didn't hit the flop either time, and as we all know shit happens. No need to press it, you had the right idea in letting the flop hit you then trapping him. You will win more in the long run not pressing your second best hands and trying to find where he's at. Instead if he raises the pot on the flop before you act and you didn't hit the flop RELEASE IT...now. Trap him later when you do hit the flop!!! |
