Party 2/4, 10-handed. Good table, 5 to the flop not uncommon. I should have specific reads, but I don't, except that CO was one of few non-donkeys at the table (his stats were reasonable). This table has frustrated me all session. I'm stuck for $50 after an hour or so after missing many, many flops and many, many aggressively-played strong draws.

Hero is in the BB with A A

Preflop:

2 folds, UTG3 calls, 1 fold, MP2 calls, 1 folds, CO calls, button calls, SB calls, Hero raises, 4 calls, SB folds (hee!).

Flop (5 players, 10 SB): 8 9 10

Hero bets, UTG3 calls, MP2 folds, CO raises, button calls, Hero 3-bets, UTG3 calls, CO caps, button folds, hero calls, UTG3 calls.

There are many possibilities here: I am drawing near dead to a flopped straight (unlikely) or set (possible); I am drawing very live against two pair (possible); or I am ahead of a pair+OESD (most likely, IMO), which has 13 outs twice over to beat my rockets. Needless to say, BAD FLOP FOR ACES! Should I have just called the flop raise?

Turn (3 players, 11 BB): A

Hero checks, UTG3 checks, CO bets, Hero raises, UTG3 folds, CO 3-bets, Hero calls.

Is this 3-bet enough to move the flopped straight to the top of the list? I think so, which is why I didn't cap. That may be a long-term mistake, even though my read was correct. Needless to say, GOOD TURN FOR ACES!

The way you played it, I am also bet calling the river (UI).

I think you played it all right. I probably would have called the raise on the flop. I like the play on the turn. At the turn, so long as you aren't facing a flopped straight, you definitely have the best hand. That isn't too many hands that could beat you. If the next card is a blank (doesn't increase odds of a straight), I check-raise and call a 3-bet believing that I have the best hand. If it isn't a blank, then bet/call.

What you have to remember is that unless he has the straight the board should be just as scary for him. About the only thing you can beat at this point is two pair, unless you seriously think someone is three betting the turn with a pair and a straight draw after an ace showed up. I'm not even sure someone would cap the flop with an oesd. There's just too great a chance the other person putting in bets already has it.

j