8 replies to this topic

[accolades]

Today I couldn't seem to get any value out of my pocket Aces, maybe you guys could tell me what I did wrong... TWICE I got dealt bullets on PacificPoker (the SOFTEST, MOST LOOSE game on the net, right?) I won with them both times, but couldn't seem to squeeze any value out of them. Everyone at the freaking table is betting every hand to the river with nothing, Ace high wins, pair of 10s wins etc... etc... I get dealt Pocket Aces, I call the BB expecting someone to raise but it doesn't happen, the flop comes rags, I check in early position, still no action (I was hoping for a check raise) a King comes out on the turn and I expect SOME action here, at least some wild player representing A pair or Trip of Kings... STILL NOTHING... The river comes, still 4-5 players in the hand, but I can't afford to check again and get no bets right? 4 other players, I figure someone is BOUND to have a low pair that will call my small bet, so I bet out with a dollar... (was REALLY hoping someone would think I was trying to buy the pot and re-raise me) a freaking dollar and everyone at the table folds. Happened to me twice today.Conversely, I did get a slightly better result from my bullets just a little while ago on TruePoker... I was on the button and I called the BB (notice I don't like to represent the Aces, is that wrong?) The blinds were about $50/$100 and the small blind raised for $300... everyone else folded to me and I re-raised to $600 which put him all in... the cards are turned over and he shows 2h2d. I win a decent sized pot and take the chip lead... (any thoughts on this play are appreciated too)Playing at the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque this weekend I watched some old fart get his value from his aces beautifully. This old fella could hardly keep track of when it was his turn to post blind, or how much the blind was (now I'm wondering "or could he?" since he won the tourny and I took third, lol) There were 7 payouts and we were down to 7 players. The old man goes all in, everyone folds to the last player, a young guy (you know the type... ballcap and iPod like he's sitting on the World Poker Tour, when he's really playing in $5 or $20 buy-in tournaments at an Indian Casino in New Mexico) anyways, the old fart leans over to the woman next to him and whispers, "what does 7th place get?" this makes up the kid's mind and he calls the all-in with rags, the old gambler turns over his pocket aces and takes down a HUGE pot.- Tim

[Smasharoo]

Get the money preflop.If you just win the blinds, so be it.I understand you want to get maximum value and limp re-raise pre-flop, but I repfer betting out and hopinng someone raises for the elusive raise reraise re-reraise all in move.That's just me though.

[SBriand]

I agree with Smash, get you money on the tabel pre-flop. Whenever I slow-play AA I get burned at least 50% of the time.

[looshle]

Why are you checking so much and letting them see free cards? That's when people hit straight and 2 pair. If you had AJ and the flop was J 10 3, would you slow play it? I hope not, because slowplaying a pair will cost you in the long run. You have top pair, bet it, take it while its there, and wait for one of those times where people are going all in preflop against it.

[pokerplayer75]

Brunson said about pocket aces that you either win a little or lose a lot.

[KKsuited]

yes, follow Brunson's advice. Trying to hit a homerun with AA will get you busted.

[wookie]

PacificPoker (the SOFTEST, MOST LOOSE game on the net, right?) in this situation, make people pay to play - raise when you have the best hand! No cheap or free cards that could beat you.and consider that in a loose game like this, a few callers would have followed you all the way to the river. you lost a lot of bets you should have won.so I bet out with a dollar... (was REALLY hoping someone would think I was trying to buy the pot and re-raise me) a freaking dollar and everyone at the table folds. Happened to me twice today.You were lucky not to be drawn out on... be glad you won what you did with your top pair (after all, AA is just a pair)Conversely, I did get a slightly better result from my bullets just a little while ago on TruePoker... This is more complicated - if your read on the SB was that he might try something in this situation so that you could get heads up with him, great play feigning weakness there. If not...Playing at the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque this weekend I watched some old fart get his value from his aces beautifully. All he did was go in and get someone to call him - which is exactly what you want with any big pair - heads up. Therefore, you usually raise them.- w

[MasterLJ]

I'm not a big fan of slow playing in fixed games unless you flopped an absolute monster. The thing that sucks about pocket pair is that most of the time you are hoping for a set. I don't mean to play Captain Obvious here, but a straight or flush beats the set. You can rule out the boat pretty much, since if you hold a set and the board pairs, you are generally the one holding the best hand at the table... certainly with rockets (unless quads of course).In any case, you don't want that 10 7 os limper to get that straight. You must raise them out early so that you have a much better idea of what you are up against. Of course, this is for stakes play only. In NL games, I regularly call large raises (indicating pocket pair) with things like suited connectors, simply because the implied odds are huge. In stakes, you are not going to be a successful player by calling large raises pre-flop with suited connectors (low).So the point is, just put yourself on auto-bet until you see the flop. If the flop has a potential straight, or flush, you may want to think about canning those rockets... otherwise keep betting away. Be mindful of the set as well, as generally people will only call 3 or 4 bets pre-flop with high pocket pair or AK suited.

[tekn0wledg]

Getting value with Aces can be tricky. It generally depends on the players at your table and what your table image is. If you've been caught bluffing at some point, or won some hands with less than premium hands in your opponent's eyes, you will get more value out of your aces, and also get drawn out on more.So there is a double edged sword. Remember large pocket pairs don't play well against numerous players. You want to isolate one or two players and out play them or buy the pot on the flop. I know this doesn't sound like the best logic, but just give it a try.In addition always mix up your play. I raise about 85% of the time with pocket aces pre-flop. I also like to vary my raise amount to add some deception to the hand.I have no problem buying the pot on the flop if that's what a pre-flop raise and then a bet on the flop does. Give me my pot and let me get to the next hand.If you get lucky enough to get some action, now you need to slow down and figure out what they are playing against you....