Smooth Calling Raises With Aces (6 max)

[AKingdom]

I agree that my play was certainly not optimal in my original example. Even though villain admitted that he felt that due to the way I played it (not 3 betting preflop and betting into him rather than cr) that I had a weak hand. Basically smooth calling preflop created a situation where my opponent trapped himself on the turn and was drawing to a slim 5 outs. Now whether aces and kings are 'designed' to lose because on-line poker is rigged is another matter [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img].

In general though what I gather from the comments is that it's hard to build a case for smooth calling with aces unless villain is a known maniac post flop. The risk vs. reward just doesn't justify letting a weaker hand see the flop without charging them a premium. I will definately go back to 3 betting them 99% of the time
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[ama0330]

The good thing about 3betting aces pre is that if you have a relatively wide 3betting range (i.e. more than just AA-QQ) then your range when you do shove the flop becomes much wider and therefore its more profitable for you because your opponents will stack off lighter.

[mrpotto]

I've had the opposite experience at $25 NL. I think because everyone expects you to 3 bet when you have aces or kings that no one gives you credit for such a big hand. I was able to stack someone who raised UTG with KJ when a K hit on the flop. I also will try to only smooth call when I'll be heads up. I always re-raise if there's a raise and a call in front of me. I stacked another player when I had aces in the BB. It got folded around to the SB and he raised and I smooth called. He had A9 suited and he called my all in reraise after the turn brought the second card of his suit.

Anyway just relaying my recent experience.

Chris

[AKingdom]

Yeah I agree that this is the best way to go and it's how I was playing prior to this botched experiment.