Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

Villain is running 26/10 with agg factor of 4.

I hated pre-flop, just flat calling OOP.

At first this hand looks super standard, but can I really beat anything on the river?

Full Tilt Poker Game #3659030752: $17,500 Guarantee (27408984), Table 72 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 14:58:14 ET - 2007/09/24
Seat 1: Cougars4444 (2,125)
Seat 2: Shinerbock83 (6,410)
Seat 3: tmm03 (4,355)
Seat 4: GeoGeoGeo (2,740)
Seat 5: admiralfats (2,535)
Seat 6: Sleeves444 (1,445)
Seat 7: LJJones (5,380)
Seat 8: wave64 (660)
Seat 9: WHEEL- A2345 (4,085)
LJJones posts the small blind of 50
wave64 posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to LJJones [Js Ad]
WHEEL- A2345 folds
Cougars4444 folds
Shinerbock83 raises to 300
tmm03 folds
GeoGeoGeo folds
admiralfats folds
Sleeves444 folds
LJJones has 15 seconds left to act
LJJones calls 250
wave64 folds
*** FLOP *** [2c Ah Kd]
LJJones checks
Shinerbock83 checks
*** TURN *** [2c Ah Kd] [7h]
LJJones bets 350
Shinerbock83 calls 350
*** RIVER *** [2c Ah Kd 7h] [Ac]
LJJones has 15 seconds left to act
LJJones bets 800
Shinerbock83 has 15 seconds left to act
Shinerbock83 raises to 2,500

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

Pretty interesting spot. Over what period are your stats on this guy? Seems tightish from your stats, but over a small period this could just be cold decked.

I don't hate the pre-flop call. Stacks aren't great for reraising here (though it's not terrible) and folding seems weak (but probably isn't terrible either).

I think I lead the flop. If you're not gonna play when an A flops, why are you calling with AJ in the first place? You'll also learn more about his hand... I'd be willing to lay it down to a flop raise.

As played, I'd also lead the turn.

The A on the flop is a pretty useless card. You're not suddenly beating anything you weren't already beating (unless he has K7, which he doesn't) and vice versa. So I check/call most bets on the river and hope for a reasonably cheap showdown.

Matt

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

I fold pre, I have AJo OOP for exactly this reason. Plus I like to be the PFRer.

River sucks... but there is a ton of retards at the 24+2 so maybe he has a worse ace. I think I make the crying call and go "obviously you have AK and I'm a donk."

I think c/c the river has more value, allows him to bluff worse hands. Edit: why bet the river, do you expect a call from KQ or worse?

I don't lead the flop like someone else just said. Gets QQ off cheap.

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

def fold pre. As played, i like the bet/fold line on this river.

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

preflop sucks

and don't fold the river, you have the nizzles

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

[ QUOTE ]
preflop sucks

and don't fold the river, you have the nizzles

[/ QUOTE ]

What's better, folding pre-flop or 3betting?

My gut is that folding is better since it's still early.

Re: Early stage hand, FTP $24+$2
 

I don't think preflop sucks considering that your opponent has an aggression factor of 4 + you are deep + you play for pot control after the flop if you hit an A/J. However, given my play recent, I probably auto muck this since AJ often gets me in trouble pf. It's really almost like an axiom now.

I don't think 3-betting is good at all, it's too early.

River isn't a terrible pot, you call here. If he has AK, he played it really weird. I mean, RR on the turn, yes? Max value against AJ/AQ/flushdraw. If he had AQ, also weird, not as much. But, you have this timing tell where you took 15 seconds to act, so maybe he thinks you are up to something. Or maybe he is trying to rep an Ace against your king? Or maybe he has A10. Maybe he has air. I don't have a [censored] clue, but the way he played this hand, I can't fold here.

Barry