a question you're probably sick of answering...

unlucky513 · #1 01-25-2006, 12:33 PM

this is my first time posting in the MTT forum. i've just started to work on my MTT game.

$20 on Absolute, 180ish entrants - we're down to 26 when this hand comes up, i'm 7th in chips. 18th place is where the money starts...

200/400 blinds, 50 ante

UTG (no reads, T10,000ish) mini raises, i'm UTG+1 w/ AA and about T9k.

what is my line here? i told myself that my chips were probably going in the middle no matter what was on the flop, so i flat called - hoping to get another caller or two.

i don't think JUST calling preflop is ever correct, am i right?- please call me a fish and throw rocks at me.

grossmeyer · #2 01-25-2006, 12:50 PM

You really need to re-raise preflop... I'd pop it up to about 2000. Without reads, I'll reraise here with 99+, AQ+. Minraises always tick me off.

-Gross

mrh86 · #3 01-25-2006, 12:51 PM

Raise to 1200-1600 and hope somebody else has a hand worth playing.

gobboboy · #4 01-25-2006, 12:54 PM

There are times that smoothcalling with AA is a good strategy and there are times when it is not. This is not.

A good time to smoothcall AA is when an aggressive player raises up what you believe to be a strong hand (from utg usually) and you are on the button, CO, or hijack. Then it's good to smoothcall (especially if you think someone behind you will reraise).

At the same time, only smoothcall with AA if the stacks are relatively short compared to the blinds. Letting them see a cheap flop is dangerous and not worth it when you have a deep stack.

stevepa · #5 01-25-2006, 12:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
There are times that smoothcalling with AA is a good strategy and there are times when it is not. This is not.

A good time to smoothcall AA is when an aggressive player raises up what you believe to be a strong hand (from utg usually) and you are on the button, CO, or hijack. Then it's good to smoothcall (especially if you think someone behind you will reraise).

At the same time, only smoothcall with AA if the stacks are relatively short compared to the blinds. Letting them see a cheap flop is dangerous and not worth it when you have a deep stack.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would've said you want the utg player to have a weak hand (i.e. he wouldn't call a reraise). If he's got a strong hand, you can probably get the money in now and avoid getting no more action if he has say TT and a couple overcards flop.

Steve

betgo · #6 01-25-2006, 12:56 PM

I think flat calling is fine, but raising is the more common play. However, your goal is not to get additional callers. Multiway, someone could outflop you, and it will be hard to get away from your overpair.

You are hoping someone else will reraise so that you can put in a 3rd raise. It is also not bad to get heads up with the miniraiser with position. Villain will likely atleast fire a continuation bet.

betgo · #7 01-25-2006, 01:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
There are times that smoothcalling with AA is a good strategy and there are times when it is not. This is not.

A good time to smoothcall AA is when an aggressive player raises up what you believe to be a strong hand (from utg usually) and you are on the button, CO, or hijack. Then it's good to smoothcall (especially if you think someone behind you will reraise).

At the same time, only smoothcall with AA if the stacks are relatively short compared to the blinds. Letting them see a cheap flop is dangerous and not worth it when you have a deep stack.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't agree with this. Flat calling from early position with deep money is pretty standard. After all, your goal is to get allin preflop.

If you think the raiser has a strong hand and you are in late position, then just reraise rather than trap. He will almost certainly atleast call the reraise.

Elaboration · #8 01-25-2006, 01:06 PM

I will mix it up and flat call someone from time to time, but I usually like to do it when I can better gauge how many people I have to contend with on the flop. Here, you could easilly end up in a multi-way pot oop.

I'd put in a standard re-raise and go from there. Give him a chance to put it all-in pre-flop.

gobboboy · #9 01-25-2006, 01:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I don't agree with this. Flat calling from early position with deep money is pretty standard. After all, your goal is to get allin preflop.

[/ QUOTE ]

With deep stacks, the last thing I want to do is get it in preflop, even with AA (unless they have AK, but obviously if they want to get it in preflop that's only one of several hands they can have). When I say deep I mean above 50 bb's, simply because the 20% chance I have of being crippled is something I tend to avoid.

Chances are, if he has something strong (AK, KK, QQ, even JJ) and the flop isn't terrible for both of you, he's getting it in on the flop too. Let your hand be defined a little bit more. Besides, if you DON'T reraise preflop and you raise his flop bet, he will likely think his overpair is good more often than not.

betgo · #10 01-25-2006, 01:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
With deep stacks, the last thing I want to do is get it in preflop, even with AA (unless they have AK, but obviously if they want to get it in preflop that's only one of several hands they can have). When I say deep I mean above 50 bb's, simply because the 20% chance I have of being crippled is something I tend to avoid.

[/ QUOTE ]
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