Players act out of turn-Do I have anybody to blame but myself.

[AKQJ10]

OK, I stand corrected.

At any rate, in no case is "punishing the intervening players for their donkishness" a viable reason to make their action stand. In fact, the proposed course of action -- leaving two bets in the pot from the erstwhile cold-callers -- couldn't be correct except in that poster's fantasy, because a fold in turn would cost them zero bets and cold-calling a reraise in turn would cost them three.

In the OP's situation, I take it that if he'd smooth-called with the aces then their cold-call could be made to stand? Or is that NL only where the "situation hasn't changed" would apply?

Also thanks for your first post, Randy; it really clarified to me why the cold-callers can't just use this as an angle shoot to get in for the price they like.