Live 6/12: A9s-what stage of Zee development am I at?

[mrcunningham]

Saturday night, 9 handed,~4 to every flop, a tad more aggressive than typical for a saturday nite. EP has been fairly non-descript, playing few hands and going to showdown rarely. BB is a 65+yo hispanic gentleman who has done nothing outlandish.

EP limp, I call with Ac9c in MP, 2 others call, BB calls.
F: A6c5
BB bets, EP calls, I raise, 2 fold, BB raises, EP calls, I call.
T: 8c
BB bets, EP calls, I raise...

Watcha think?

[KitCloudkicker]

i would raise preflop.

i dont particularly like the turn raise. given there was no PFR, it is likely that the BB has at least two pair (given the flop 3 bet), and perhaps a set. unless he's very weak tight, he's going to 3 bet you with the set and maybe Ax (two pair), knocking out the EP player and making it more expensive for you to draw.

what were you trying to accomplish with this raise? looks like you're just looking to throw money in on a gamble.

[KitCloudkicker]

to add, this turn raise play is better when you feel the opposition is weak and you have fold equity. here, the BB appears strong, meaning you have no fold equity and are just charging yourself to draw.

[BigBadBabar]

you hold ace clubs then it flops again?

[HollywoodDB]

I just call the turn, you dont really beat any other Aces. I'd rather just call and try to spike my flush or GS.

[mrcunningham]

On the flop the only club was the 6. The A was another suit.

[mrcunningham]

My rationale was to raise because:
1. I was hoping this would get me to showdown without further bets going in if I didn't improve. If I would call down a river bet, I figured I might get to show down with the same # of bets put in by raising.
2. On these live tables, it is common that AQ and even AK might not raise preflop in one of the blinds.
3. I figured I had a reasonable number of outs, and if I hit them I might get called on the river.
Do these arguments make any sense?

[mrcunningham]

[ QUOTE ]
I just call the turn, you dont really beat any other Aces. I'd rather just call and try to spike my flush or GS.

[/ QUOTE ]

I realized this was likely, but not guaranteed and thought the raise might freeze up the BB on the river.

[Frond]

I like your free look try for showdwon. I think if the BB had only called your flop raise initailly you could have tried this better on the turn. At first I thought your turn raise was okay until read back & saw that the BB had 3 bet the flop. After that I think I might be more inclined to call the turn. If another Ace comes off it probably won't help you with that flop action, so looks like your drawing to the nut flush with the Ace as a slight backup at this point.

[KitCloudkicker]

From the Poker Art of War, based on the Art of War by Sun Tzu:

"When your enemy is weak, raise. When your enemy is strong, fold (or call and sneak up from behind :-) )