Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed) converter

MP2 ($9.05)
Hero ($6.95)
Button ($21.15)
SB ($52.95)
BB ($28.45)
UTG ($22)
UTG+1 ($8.25)
MP1 ($13.05)

Preflop: Hero is CO with [Kh], [Kc].
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.75, UTG+1 calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.35) [Qc], [6c], [Jh] (3 players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $2, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $2.

Turn: ($7.35) [As] (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($7.35) [3c] (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $5.25 (All-In), Hero folds.

Final Pot: $12.60


Did I make the correct play? I hate KK so much. I've had it 5 times in the last 2 days, an A flopped 3 times. and another time i was beat by an underset. Maybe I just feel like I can't win with KK so I folded, but should I have made a larger bet on the flop.

Let's see...with limpers, raise more then 4 BB, 7 or 8 is better.
Doesn't matter if they can more easily put you on a big hand, the point is to try to isolate one opponent

Bet more on the flop, betting just over half isn't good, bet full pot to punish the flush draw

Honestly, I'm moving all in on the turn...why?

Because I think you're pot committed being on the short stack

Actually, the more that I think about it, the more inclined I am to just move all in on the flop, presuming I raised it to 2 dollars preflop, I have 4.95 left and that's the size of the pot roughly

Preflop raise is fine, 4x bb is about the least you want to raise with kings (unless there is a good reason not to). At low stakes, with loose passive players, I'd be much more inclined to bet about 6-8x BB, as you'll probably get dominated hands like mid pp and KQ along for the ride anyway.

Flop raise is ok, but I'd be more inclined to bet the pot with 2 others in, especially at low levels. Now the AQ or AJ is gonna double you up 80% of the time as the .10/.25 players can't get away from TPTK if their life depended on it. If it were heads up, 1/2-2/3 pot size would be perfectly fine. And now that I look at stack sizes, you need to commit yourself on the flop. I'd say all in is the best move.

Checking on the turn then fold the river is ok once the ace came, but it was still weak flop play that put you in that position. His river bet could have been a steal easily. I'd probably call with the 3:1 pot odds and kick myself for not putting it all in (or at least pot committing myself) on the flop if I see an ace.

Well, he'd be stupid to check the turn if he had two pair or high pair with a possible flush draw on the board unless he's trying to be tricky. I'd have gone all-in on the turn - you still have an K and 10 as outs and probably have the best hand.

Honestly, with $6 in your stack you have to be looking for a place to go all in on. Preflop I'd do $1.75, and then an all-in bet on the flop if an A doesn't pop. A lot of players who have your covered will call that bet on a flush draw just because they know you can't rake them on the turn if they're chasing.

You're right, I tried to get too fancy with it preflop. I don't know if i can bet the turn, bc he could have just as easily been on a KT str8 draw that hit. I've gotta check/fold the turn.

Raise stronger pre-flop. Move in on the flop. Done.

Raising any more PF here would be horrible.

2 limpers and any more than 4x bb bet is horrible? Interesting view. I still say 6x bb bet would be about right here, putting in the rest on the flop when an A doesn't hit.

Disagree

Raising more PF to try to isolate, or better yet build a big pot

a 4x raise is absolutely standard with kings in this position.
anything more is too strong

"Absolutely standard."??? I didn't read that book, nor did I realize that there were very many absolutes in poker.

4x raise here is fine, but i like 5x-6x better given 2 limpers already in. Too many dolts limp in early position with any ace, so you either gotta make 'em pay to outdraw you or make 'em lay down their hands.

FWIW, I would want them to cold-call my 5x-6x raise, seeing as how it would be a mistake for them to do that.

If there were no limpers, I could agree with the 4xbb bet, but with 2 limpers, you must raise bigger than that. With the 4xbb bet, the first limper is getting 2:5 to call and the second is getting even better. Any naked ace has the right odds to call that measly bet.

even if an ACE comes out on the flop, and i think he has an ACE, i raise the crap out of it, if he does, u gotta put him on like AJ AQ maybe even A10., depending on what the other cards are, maybe u can get him to lay it down later on in the hand, maybe get lucky and catch a set

We are going to have to agree to disagree.
I think it is best to keep your raises consistent in NL hold'em. It gives your opponents very little information about your betting patterns.

And AJs certainly isn't worth a 6x raise.
I think most professional players and those successful in NL tournament play hold this same opinion.

I disagree to agree.

Actually, the play closest to "standard" would be a bigger raise than 4x, given that there are limpers in front of you. As a previous poster indicated, if you don't make a bigger raise, you're giving many of the limpers the correct pot odds to call.

I do agree with you that your raises should be consistent. This is a matter of opinion, but I choose to keep mine the same GIVEN THE SITUATION. For example, when first into a pot, i make a 3x raise. With limpers I bump that up depending on how many limpers. However, with limpers I will typically make a pot-sized raise. So, I am consistent.

I agree that you can makes consistent raises without the monetary value being the same. Like the previous poster said, if i'm first in the pot I raise 4x's BB. If I have a number of limpers in front of me, I'll raise 6-8. I don't give away relative strength if I do this as consistently with KK, AA as I do with AK AQ, 1010. I really think you have to raise bigger with limpers in front of you or are you defeating the purpose of raising in the first place to thin the field.

Find me a single pro that says preflop raises should be the same whether you are first to enter a pot or there are 2+ limpers and I'll be shocked and amazed.