Discussion: Common preflop situations

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[ATo discussion...]
As a further question, would you play A9 or A8 the same?


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depends on table - if we know nothing about the opponents I tend to fold worse than ATo tho A9 or A8 aren't that much worse really.

In teh stove example vs 2 randoms ATo is 44% A9o is 41% A8 is 40% essentially you can't make the nut straight with A9 - you can with AT but as most of the time you won't flop the straight or a straight draw it's not much different.

With a read that the table is loose passive and might well pay up if I make a top hand I'll overlimp there with A2o+ looking to flop 2pair+ c/folding if I don't. Basically I'm choosing Ax as if I make 2pair unless someone 2pairs a bigger Ax my 2pair is the best at the table - if we overlimped with T4o say and flop 2 pair thats a very vulnerable hand.

You have to play goot post tho to make this work out.

lets roll the hand forward a little

you call OTB, SB folds BB checks

Flop: 4 players - 4.5BB A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

BB checks, MP checks, CO leads 4BB.

Now you're OOP relative to the flop bettor. It's probably best to fold here despite the fact that we likely hve the best hand. CO might have 2pair - it's more likely he's making a stab at the pot tho, but worse BB or MP might have A4 or A8 and be planning a c/r so if you call CO's lead you're wide open to a raise behind you. If BB/MP are aggro players like you tend to find more of as you move up in stakes either might well come OTT on a squeeze play and now you've sunk 5BB into this pot and can't call profitably...