[ajmargarine]

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The board was dry enough to justify a free card....

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I don't want to give a free card (ever) if I only have one pair. If you play TAG, I think it's best just to bet that flop. You're making continuation bets, you're putting constant pressure on your opponents, sometimes you got the goods, sometimes you don't. Here, you got the goods, so just bet and let them make the tough decisions. You ended up having to make the tough decision here, and we want that shoe on the other foot.

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How is my line? Is the money won vs. a weaker ace greater than the money lost when i do happen to run into a set/2-pair? The question is... Do i play for my entire stack with a paired AK?

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I prefer with TPTK to bet flop, bet turn, and then check behind on the river if applicable, and sometimes value bet it depending on the board. Instead of bet flop, check turn, and then maybe be faced with a decision on the river if villian bets pot or something. I want to be the one controlling the action in the hands I am playing, plus I am doing the betting, so I am the one deciding how big the pot gets. You usually find out by the turn if you are up against a set or two pair. If villian checks to you on both the flop and turn, you are good almost always.

Most of the time it's a weaker ace calling you down hoping to outkick you. If you are representing TP or better with a turn bet, it's harder for villian to bluff you off your hand with air. I just want to be aggressive when I have position in a hand, and the bet flop, bet turn line works best for me as it compliments the other plays I like to make when I have position.