Playing at the Taj this weekend(and got sick by the way. I remember why I dont play there anymore) and came upon this hand.

I have KK with about $600. Villian has about $140.

Folds to me in the hijack. I raise to $7. Button calls. BB reraises to $15. I feel this min raise represents strength, but his range is pretty wide as he seems to be a complete newb, so I figure him for at best 99+, AJs+.

I decide to reraise so that the button doesnt tag along and I can get heads up against BB, since I crush his range. I make it $35 total(this is where I think I make my mistake). Button thinks for a minute then calls. Im not happy at this point. BB flats and we see a flop.

Flop is 9c 8c 2s. BB checks and I look at both stacks. BB has about $200 and Villian has about $100. I bet $100 and Button calls all in. BB thinks and folds faceup.

Thoughts?

Think you can raise bigger after the 3bet PF.

But I'm not folding to those stacks in 1/2 live on that board with KK

I guess I have to agree now. I thought it would be enough to make the villian fold(whose range was wide and would be harder to play postflop) and the BB call(whose range I was comfortable plying against).

I really dont know if that reasoning makes sense. I might be overthinking it.

Indeed you are overthinking it.

1) Kings
2) 4bet pot
3) Aceless flop.

Ship it every time and make sure your 4bet is large for value


Its good to be thinking about ranges constantly, but these is one of those situations where unless you're against an Undead Egyptian Mummy who has been waiting thousands of years at the table and has finally decided to play a hand, you don't really need to put that much effort behind it.

Yea you guys are right. Its not that hard of a hand.

Now to my second part.

Villian called with 88. BB folded JJ face up. I was very surprised with how villian played the hand. I dont know how he calls pre flop. He was a pretty solid player which is what surprised me most. Do you guys agree you cant call pre there or am I wrong here.

It's really close but Villain is getting an ok price to set mine. Slightly losing at worst.

Even if you include the chances that BB comes over the top after villian flats? I could understand if he was ending the betting, but with someone still to act, who has shown strength, I thought that it wouldnt be very prudent. You may be right though and I am def gonna pay more attention to that.

Thanks for your responses guys.

Button played the hand poorly, but you gave the BB awesome odds for set-mining with any pair, so you made a mistake in the hand as well.

make it $45 minimum on your 4-bet. the rest of the hand plays itself, you aren't folding.

Yeah, 4 bet bigger, $45 as Dubey said is probably right

Then ship it

total agree 1/2 lives play like .01-.02 online most of the time don't overthink weak games and shortish stacks with a monster

$35 isn't enough. You just got 3-bet PF and you're holding KK.
I also very much hate opening for $7 in CO with KK in a live 1/2 game BTW.
If $7 is standard, you need to bolt from this game because it's unprofitable.