NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

Villain on the button is loose preflop, something like 45/10, and seems somewhat aggressive. Hero has $194 and Villain covers. Preflop raisor in this hand is shortstacked ($74) and raises light.

PokerStars 6-max Blinds $1/$2

Hero is dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG folds. UTG+1 raises to $6. Villain calls $6 from the button. SB folds. Hero calls $4.

Flop ($19): 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Hero checks. UTG+1 bets $12. Villain calls $12. Hero raises to $68. UTG+1 folds. Villain pushes all-in. Hero has $120 left. Hero?

<font color="blue">The bet from the PF raisor feels very weak. Betting not even 2/3 pot on this A high flop with a flush draw. Villain's call doesn't feel strong either since he should want to protect most hands that hit this flop. So I decide to raise enough to put shortstack all-in and make button pay if he's on a draw.

UTG+1 folds as expected but now button goes all-in. WTF? I put him on either a draw or a set. Can't see him having a better A here since he definitely would have raised the flop, and maybe also reraised preflop.

Call or fold?
</font>

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

Fold.

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

I never want to play for stacks in this spot. Just call the flop and play a medium size pot with your medium strength hand.

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

fold. flop raise ($68) seems too big.

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

Raising the flop is gross. Charging draws is overrated .

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
Raising the flop is gross. Charging draws is overrated .

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I realize the flop raise was what put me in this awkward situation. Seemed like a really good move att the moment, but I guess it wasn't...

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Raising the flop is gross. Charging draws is overrated .

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I realize the flop raise was what put me in this awkward situation. Seemed like a really good move att the moment, but I guess it wasn't...

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just curious. Is your flop raise a bluff or for value?

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

I don't think the check-raise is that bad. If you make it though, it doesn't need to be so big. I know you were putting villain AI, but that's just showmanship.

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
fold. flop raise ($68) seems too big.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is the fold really that simple if I can narrow his range down to a set or a flush draw?

If I give him a broad, but likely, range of drawing hands I have almost 48% equity in the pot according to PokerStove. On the other hand I have to be confident that he could play a flush draw this way or else 77/33 is just so much more likely.

Board: 7c 3h Ah
Dead:

equity (%) win (%) tie (%)
Hand 1: 47.9515 % 47.95% 00.00% { AdJh }
Hand 2: 52.0485 % 52.05% 00.00% { 77, 33, KhQh, KhTh, Kh9h, Kh8h, QhTh, Qh9h, Qh8h, Th9h, Th8h, Th7h, 9h8h, 9h7h, 8h7h, 8h6h, 7h6h, 7h5h, 6h5h, 6h4h, 5h4h }

Re: NL200 6m - Playing AJ for stacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think the check-raise is that bad. If you make it though, it doesn't need to be so big. I know you were putting villain AI, but that's just showmanship.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok. What would you raise to? A pot sized raise would be $55. Just felt that putting shortstack all-in for $13 more wouldn't make that much of a difference between me and him, but giving me a slightly better chance to fold out the button.