KK with A onboard. Everybody thinks my line is crazy

kewl_cph · #1 07-23-2007, 05:34 PM

Sunday Warmup, we're not in the money yet.

I've discussed this hand with some of my friends and they think I'm crazy for playing it like this. I argue that the line taken maximizes value against hands I beat. They say that if I think my KK is good that I should raise, but I argue that I don't want to fold out pocket pairs or othwer hands that I beat. I'm obviously getting owned by an ace, but if I decide to go all the way with my KK I thought this was the best line to take.

I was kind of thinking about a discussion on micro stakes PL/NL about how c-betting KK on A-high flops are bad, because you often fold out almost everything you beat and get called by A's (and better).
That's why I didn't bet the flop. I thought that there's no way he's calling with a hand that I beat if I bet, but he may bet some hands that I beat if I check the flop.

Am I way off here or what?

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t1000/t2000
(Ante: t200)
9 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: t54076
UTG+1: t148843
MP1: t28350
MP2: t26400
MP3: t58858
Hero: t72163
Button: t51200
SB: t11925
BB: t39910

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is CO with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
UTG raises to t8000, 4 folds, Hero raises to t22000, 3 folds, UTG calls t14000 (pot was t34800).

Flop: 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (t48800, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Turn: 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (t48800, 2 players)
UTG bets t12000, Hero calls t12000 (pot was t60800).

River: 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (t72800, 2 players)
UTG is all-in t19876, Hero calls t19876 (pot was t92676).

Results:
Final pot: t112552

bigbabyjesus · #2 07-23-2007, 05:39 PM

Standard.

Cornell Fiji · #3 07-23-2007, 06:51 PM

Your reasoning is perfect.

Todd Terry · #4 07-23-2007, 07:31 PM

Given the stack sizes, I think you played it just right. You're never going to fold here, so you might as well try to get all his money in the pot. If you were deeper, I would always lead out on the flop, otherwise you're totally lost if Villian bets out on the turn. It's a bummer that he turned over AA, but what are you gonna do?

nath · #5 07-23-2007, 07:42 PM

I like this in general
But I think his line is pretty solidly indicative of AA, unless he's just a complete idiot

kewl_cph · #6 07-24-2007, 03:50 AM

Thanks for the affirmation, he actually turned over pocket 5s.

chh · #7 07-24-2007, 04:09 AM

you should checkraise the flop and talk your opponent who's holding a5o into calling.

erm.. I mean.. I really like your line

nath · #8 07-24-2007, 04:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the affirmation, he actually turned over pocket 5s.

[/ QUOTE ]
definitely file under "complete idiot"

Yoshi63 · #9 07-24-2007, 04:29 AM

I really like the way you played this hand post flop. There's really no way you're getting off the hand, so you might as well grab some bluff equity from losing hands along the way.

Can someone explain the reasoning behind the flop raise? With such small stacks, for him to continue should mean he is committing the rest of his chips to this hand. Are we simply trying to lure in worse hands with irresistable pot odds? I think my normal play here would be to just push pre-flop.

Then again, as I run the numbers it seems like he can't profitably call and see a flop with either Ax or any PP. He simply won't connect often enough (18% for Ax and the 1/8.5 or whatever for a PP).

Once again, I really like your line. I'm assuming you put a good deal of thought into the PFR size?

NoahSD · #10 07-24-2007, 04:49 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I like this in general
But I think his line is pretty solidly indicative of AA, unless he's just a complete idiot

[/ QUOTE ]

So we're fine, then.