A situation came up today that I wanted to get
the thoughts of the strat forum about.

I'm in EP playing $200 NL and get pocket Kings.

I type in to raise to $8, as I want a call or two, but
want to scare off the riff-raff, but I misclick, and just
call...damn...

Anyways, it goes to MP, who raises to $4, then Button
who raises to $6 (what's with these lame min raises?)
and gets folded around to me.

At this point, I'm thinking there's no way that anyone
is Min-raising with AA, so I've gotta be ahead, so I go ahead
and push all in for around $150 (sorta like the smash system
minus the mis-clicked limp) and got 1 guy to call with JJ.


My question is this...What are your thoughts on trying this
move more often, especially at a table where there is usually
at least one raise Preflop?? I did it by accident this time, but
was thinking it might not be a bad play to try out when in
EP...What do you guys think?

Just move in preflop.

The guy with JJ is calling regardless.

Good luck.

The current crop of NL players is stunningly bad. Don't get fancy, just jam it.

this a clear cap bet to 8.

make sure to minbet the flop and the turn and then open push the A river for a huge overbet and bitch at Ax for being a total fish and calling you down.

really, you dont ever need to limp/reraise at the lower buyin tables. people will call your raises with weak hands and they will call off their stacks with top pair.

Ha

wtf?

I disagree. Limp/reraise in EP with AA or KK is a very profitable play.

I call bullshit.

Ice

Since I'm four tabling no limit and one tabling a limit, I have some examples from my no limit, just from like the past two hours.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) converter

Button ($57.55)
SB ($17.70)
BB ($100)
Hero ($101.50)
UTG+1 ($156.15)
MP1 ($21.60)
MP2 ($95.50)
MP3 ($93.10)
CO ($32.50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with [Kh], [Kc].
Hero calls $1, 2 folds, MP2 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB calls $13.70 (All-In).

Flop: ($45.70) [5c], [5s], [5h] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($45.70) [4h] (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($45.70) [7h] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $45.70

Results in white below:
SB has Ah Jd (three of a kind, fives).
Hero has Kh Kc (full house, fives full of kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $45.70.




PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) converter

UTG+1 ($47.15)
MP1 ($63.60)
MP2 ($96)
CO ($101.60)
Button ($61.15)
SB ($73.15)
BB ($85.90)
Hero ($179.20)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with [Ad], [Ac].
Hero calls $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $38.15.

Flop: ($124.80) [3s], [9s], [7h] (2 players)

Turn: ($124.80) [6d] (2 players)

River: ($124.80) [2h] (2 players)

Final Pot: $124.80

Results in white below:
Hero has Ad Ac (one pair, aces).
Button has Qc Qh (one pair, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $124.80.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) converter

UTG+1 ($98.70)
MP1 ($139.05)
MP2 ($106.25)
CO ($100)
Button ($81.65)
SB ($111.55)
BB ($93.80)
Hero ($161.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with [Ac], [Ad]. CO posts a blind of $1.
Hero calls $1, UTG+1 calls $1, 1 fold, UTG+1 folds, MP2 folds, CO folds, SB folds, BB calls $20.

Flop: ($50) [3h], [Qc], [Ts] (2 players)
BB bets $5, BB folds.

Final Pot: $193.15

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins $193.15.

I don't think initiating an all-in with pocket kings is a good move, in a cash game or a tournament, unless you're short-stacked and looking to double or triple up, or unless someone forces the issue by re-raising all-in, themselves and you're forced to call.

It may be the best 'starting' hand...but it does lose (how many of us have lost with pocket kings by pre-flopping all-in?). Let's face it, there are many players out there who will call an all-in with just about anything (pocket 6's, for example) hoping for a lucky draw and, ultimately, a windfall. Why risk your whole game life on pure luck and someone else's bad mathematical play? Also...you can't rule out the guy slow-playing the pocket aces.

There are a number of ways to play pocket kings...but all-in, in my opinion, is no different than going to the casino and playing the slots.

Some people like to play that way...but you're certainly checking your poker skills at the door and deferring to the Gods of Luck.

Dude...it's not like you're a 51% favorite. You're an overwhelming favorite. Poker is gambling. Pocket kings versus an underpair is a very favorable situation.

Wrong

Dude...it's not like you're a 51% favorite. You're an overwhelming favorite. Poker is gambling. Pocket kings versus an underpair is a very favorable situation.


I agree completely with you about the power of the pocket kings. I was only suggesting that I wouldn't initiate an all-in with pocket kings. That's just my opinion. There are a thousand different ways to play it. I just was offering one of them. In the end, you also have to get a sense of how the table "feels" and what you know about the players still in the hand.

You're so wrong.

KK is a 70-30 favorite against A-X and an 80-20 favorite against a lower pocket pair.

This means if You go all in with K-K preflop for the rest of Your life, the times You get called will show a substantial profit.