Analysis of 20-40 Holdem Hand

Posted by FredAces on Friday, 5 September 1997, at 1:20 p.m.

Please comment on how I played this hand and offer alternatives with supporting comments. The game is fairly typical for a good $20-40 game maybe leaning on the loose side, somewhat passive also. A weak player limps in from the early position, everybody folds to a solid player who raises (he's in late position, one off the button), the button and small blind both fold, I'm in the big blind with AQo. The solid late position raiser also only has about $80 left on the table after making the raise. I just call the raise...Maybe I should Re-raise to define my hand, get more info? I don't like the reraise because I'm out of position against two opponents. I'm slightly inclinced to reraise because the original raiser only has about $80 left and my reraise will put more pressure on the early limper (and offer me semi-bluffing options) once the flop comes.

Flop comes A-K-7 with two spades (I have no spades with my AQo, that is I *don't* have the back door flush draw). I decided to attempt a check-raise against the pre-flop raiser, so I checked, the early weak player also checked, the pre-flop raise bets and I raise. The weak early position player calls two bets cold (!) and the late position player only calls the raise. Should I have bet it out or is my check raise OK? I think just checking and calling would be OK (even with the early position guy still in) EXCEPT for the fact that there are two spades on the flop.

The turn card is the K of spades, completing the Flush possibility. All three of us *check* the turn !

The river is a 3, complete blank. I check, the early guy bets, the late guy folds and I call him with my AQo. I would think I should fold here given the previous actions *but* I find it hard to lay this hand down against this particular weak player. How bad is this call??

Also, please comment on the signficance of the short stack ($80 left after his pre-flop raise) of the pre-flop late position raiser. How should I play my hand if he was *not* short stacked?

  • Preflop, a reraise is a definite possibility. The strong player may well have been trying to make it heads up with the weakie. If the strong player will cut loose on a flop he doesn't hit, taking the initiative is indicated here. If he only raises already-opened pots with premium hands, a limp is indicated.

  • I like the checkraise on the flop. Maximum pressure on the limper. The only question is will the preflop raiser raise your bet out? If you think there's a good chance, go for the 3 bet. If you're scared you're already beat, you shouldn't have played AQo. The fact that the strong player is short stacked means you should put in as much money now as possible (while you're in the lead).

  • On the turn, I'd bet in a heartbeat. If the weak player raises you, you can cut out (if this player would make it 80 cold on a bluff, I wouldn't classify him as weak). If the other player has you beat, it doesn't matter because by my math he has but $40 anyway. It would be a tragedy to give a free card to the weak player if he had one spade. In this scenario, if a blank hits the river, I'd bet again hoping to get paid off by the weak player with Ax and not fearing the strong player who by this time should be all in.

  • On the river, laying down the hand against the weak player should be *easy*, not hard. If this is in fact a weak player, you're beat. If the strong player bet, I'd call in a heartbeat.

    Last Modified 2/9/00

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