[Bob T.]

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I could see capping preflop to get max value, but I could easily put one of the latter 2 players on AA-QQ and possibly AKs.

How did I play this?




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Here is the way, I look at the preflop play. I didn't notice if you had included any PT stats, but against certain players, I would fold this preflop. If I was going to play, then I am going to cap it every time. Your call shows a bunch of strength anyway, there is no reason to disguise your hand. Actually, your call probably does a worse job of disguising your hand, because almost everyone is going to cap with a big pocket pair, so the only hand they coldcall with in your seat is AK. Watch when it happens. I bet that calling 3 out of the blinds by a reasonable player is AK at least 75% of the time.

Ok, the second reason to cap it, is that you are probably going to continue past the flop. Unless you whiff, and it is 3 bets back to you. Why not make the pot bigger preflop, and then by default, any draw you are making, is going to be getting better odds. So by capping it preflop, you are making your likely postflop play better.

Third reason to cap it. You might make it more likely that you are going to win this big pot. UTG limped. He might fold to a cap. Also, some of the time the first raiser will also fold to a cap, but not, to a threebet. The pot is going to be big, give yourself the best chance to win here. You don't really want players with small suited connectors to stick around here, because they will take a lot of equity from your pot. You probably would just as soon have hands that you have dominated out of this pot RIGHT NOW, becuase they also will probably have draws that could beat you. AQ, AJ, KQ, all flopped enough here to suck eauity away.

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but I could easily put one of the latter 2 players on AA-QQ and possibly AKs.


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They might, but play the flop first, then try and figure out what they have psotflop.