Representing Aces UTG

donkeyradish · #1 01-28-2006, 09:11 AM

Another in a series of BBV strategy posts.
This is called "How to represent Pocket Aces"

Here is an example of when to make this expert play (regrettably, I was small blind in this hand and didn't even see the flop with my J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img])

Party Poker 5/10 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].

This hand is known as a 3-gapper, and in early position is normally only a medium strength hand (the straight you hope to make with it is only the second best possible). However by representing pocket aces it suddenly becomes very powerful indeed. This is because of a little known poker truth:

Representing pocket aces gives you 2 extra outs - the other 2 aces!

In this example, you want to represent A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. (This is because the 2 aces that are your "extra outs" may help your hand.)

So, onward.

Hero raises, UTG+1 calls, 3 folds, MP3 calls, 1 fold, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (10.40 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (5 players)

Since we are representing AA this is a great flop. Two pair. Its possible someone has a Q, but not particularly likely. We can certainly rule out them having the other 2 aces, or KK, since there was no cap.

BB checks, Hero bets, UTG+1 calls, MP3 calls, Button folds, BB folds.

Turn: (6.70 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)

Its unlikely this card helped anyone. Its commonly called a "blank".

Hero bets, UTG+1 calls, MP3 folds.

River: (8.70 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)

Success! We know our 2 pair is good as UTG+1 didn't raise the turn.

Hero bets, UTG+1 calls.

Final Pot: 10.70 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Kh 9c (flush, queen high).
UTG+1 has Jh Qh (three of a kind, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 10.70 BB.

emil3000 · #2 01-28-2006, 11:22 AM

This was very funny.

Deamon2 · #3 01-28-2006, 12:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
This was very funny.

[/ QUOTE ]

tom10167 · #4 01-28-2006, 12:35 PM

hahaha, I like how he waited even beyond showdown to stop slowplaying.

TimM · #5 01-28-2006, 06:25 PM

I am glad you started this thread. Now we are ready to see some more advanced ways to represent Aces. These generally occur at higher limits where players are more experienced. I was witness to this amazing play:

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 handed) link

Preflop: Hero is Button with 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].

When representing pocket aces, it is good to have one ace, as that makes it less likely one of your opponents will have the hand you are representing.

6 folds, Hero calls

Step one: Open limping from the button. Very advanced play. This screams aces.

SB completes, BB raises, Hero 3-bets

Step two: Limp-reraising. There is no more clear way to say "I have aces [censored]!"

1 folds, BB caps

Perhaps BB is not yet convinced. However, there are three more streets available.

Hero calls.

Flop: (9.00 SB) K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)

An excellent flop for our hand. A key point of representing pocket aces is that you can easily switch to representing pocket kings!

BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero caps, BB calls.

This insolent BB needs more convincing.

Turn: (8.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero caps, BB calls.

If a turn cap doesn't do it, I don't know what will.

River: (16.50 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets

OK, the jig is up. Be sure to call your ace high on the end just in case your opponent was also just representing.

Hero calls.

Final Pot: 18.50 BB.
Results in white below:
BB has Ad Kd (three of a kind, kings.)
Button has 6c Ac (a pair of kings.)
BB wins 18.35 BB.

SharkTank43 · #6 01-28-2006, 06:30 PM

Thats [censored] hilarious, I am near tears.

keikiwai · #7 01-28-2006, 07:28 PM

That's the funniest thing....

Patrick Bateman · #8 01-28-2006, 08:24 PM

Raise the river n00b give him a chance to fold!

TimM · #9 01-28-2006, 08:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Raise the river n00b give him a chance to fold!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well this wasn't me playing, but yes, you are right. Hero lost his nerve on the river and it cost him the pot.

TimM · #10 01-30-2006, 03:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
When representing pocket aces, it is good to have one ace, as that makes it less likely one of your opponents will have the hand you are representing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even if you learn nothing else from this thread, you must heed this.

Party Poker 5/10 Hold'em (10 handed) link

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
3 folds, Hero calls, 2 folds, TimM raises, 3 folds, Hero 3-bets, TimM calls.

Hero has not been happy about all the pre-flop raising I have been doing. He decides that since the pot is now heads up, he will represent pocket aces and force me to fold a better hand. To do so, he makes the standard limp-reraise. Notice the flexibility of this plan. He can limp with any two cards, and only after seeing the action from the rest of the players will he decide if he wants to represent aces. Unfortunately, Hero has made one fatal miscalculation.

Flop: (7.40 SB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)

This flop is great for Hero's hand, but bad for his plan! He flopped a very strong hand, but because he represented aces, the ace on the board may kill his action. Hero decides to set a little trap.

Hero checks, TimM bets, Hero raises, TimM calls.

Turn: (5.70 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, TimM raises

Hero thinks: "He must not believe we have aces, because he has AK! Thanks to that turn king I can now extract the maximum."

Hero 3-bets, TimM caps, Hero calls.

River: (13.70 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, TimM bets, Hero raises, TimM 3-bets, Hero caps, TimM calls.

Final Pot: 21.70 BB.
Results in white below:
Hero has 7h 7c (three of a kind, sevens.)
TimM has Ad As (three of a kind, aces.) (oops!)
TimM wins 21.40 BB.