Discussion: Common preflop situations

[matrix]

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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...

[bozzer]

Not much love for the raise with Axs from the SB? I get folds often enough PF for this to be profitable (assuming i don't leak postflop).

I'm gonna tot everyone's answers up tomorrow...

[pineapple888]

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As a further question, would you play A9 or A8 the same? As I see it, I don't think neither one of them is strong enough to play this way off-suited.


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Agreed, there's a BIG dropoff from AT to A9 IMHO.

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Also, I'm surprised that so many have said raise to 6 in #1. Could you elaborate on why to raise so little?

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This is a situation where you might not want to blow the initial raiser out of the pot. Obviously you want him in there if you spike a set, or if he is the type to get happy if his AT hits a T, or his 88 is an overpair to the flop. Meanwhile, since you are not generally felting JJ unimproved, there is no particular reason to protect your hand preflop, like you would with AA or KK. Instead, depending on your read, it's a valid strategy with JJ to make sure to keep the pot under control if he stays in, and go from there.

[pineapple888]

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In teh stove example vs 2 randoms ATo is 44% A9o is 41% A8 is 40%

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Well...

1.) This is a REAL big dropoff in my book
2.) We aren't up against 2 randoms.