A2s at 25NL: What am I representing with this play?

[Nick C]

I'm still relatively new to NL, and I haven't made a whole lot of use of the "overpush with a monster draw" play. It seems to me like versus my opponents at NL25 it's often just not necessary, since they'll frequently let me draw cheaply and there's a good chance I'll get paid if I catch anyway.

However, in this hand, it seemed to me like I had found a good spot for it. But afterwards I did wonder a little what my play even represented? I doubt Villain knows much about me specifically, so I guess it's more a question of what he's used to seeing, but in fact I would probably not play anything this way versus his relatively short but not super-short stack with anything but a huge draw. (With strong made hands, although I might raise the flop, unless he 3-bet all-in, I'd aim to get his stack in on the turn.)

Anyway, Villain is 29/0/3 after a whole 28 hands.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

SB ($9.75)
BB ($6.15)
UTG ($25.35)
MP1 ($7.60)
Hero ($55.90)
CO ($28.40)
Button ($14.65)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $1</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, SB calls $0.90, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Flop: ($2.25) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">SB bets $1</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $9.75 . . .</font>

My questions are:

(1) Is this a good spot for this play?

(2) What am I representing?

(3) What other hands, if any, should I do this with?

Edit: On reflection, I wish Villain's stack were a little larger for the sake of this post (since I can imagine doing this with an overpair, actually, given that a pot-sized raise would be more than half of Villain's remaining stack), but I am still wondering about the things I asked.

[TheRenaissance]

Shove all-in when you do this.
Much cooler.

1) An ok spot yes, but villain is going to call you with K5.
That's ok though:
board: 5h3c7h
Hand Pot equity Wins Ties
ah2h 53.89% 529 9
kc5s 46.11% 452 9

2) Who cares what you represent? Shorties never fold with any piece of the board anyways.

3) Do this with big combo draws, i.e. 12+ clean outs. Whether outs are clean or not is situation specific. Sometimes, against the right opponent in the right spot, you could do it with a naked flushdraw. But you would have to be certain you have plenty of fold equity to do it. So stick to the big draws.

[dirtysanchez]

this is cool, just play your big made hands the same way vs thinking villains

[Jouster777]

You have position so I would just put in a standard raise to villain's weak lead. If he 3-bets you can push. If he calls you will likely get a turn check and get to see all 5 cards very cheaply while the flop bet has disguised your hand somewhat. If he folds...great.

[corsakh]

1) No, since almost every pocket pair, many suited connectors and A7 call you.
2) A bluff. 22, 44, 66 at best.
3) Wrong question. What villain should you do this to? The one you have extensive personal history and a good read on.

[TheRenaissance]

[ QUOTE ]
1) No, since almost every pocket pair, many suited connectors and A7 call you.

[/ QUOTE ]

So what?
Villains range is pretty wide here.
If he folds, great, if he doesnt, that's fine as well.

Hold'em Simulation
103,950 trials (Exhaustive)
board: 5h3c7h
Hand Pot equity Wins Ties
ah2h 51.24% 52,703 1,119
xx 48.76% 50,128 1,119

xx=a5,a3,a7,57,68,khqh,jhth,78,k5,33,55,77,88,99,t t

[TheRenaissance]

Just to make it very clear:
board: 5h3c7h
Hand Pot equity Wins Ties
ah2h 53.08% 3,126 54
KK 46.92% 2,760 54

[Tiki]

[ QUOTE ]
1) No, since almost every pocket pair, many suited connectors and A7 call you.
2) A bluff. 22, 44, 66 at best.
3) Wrong question. What villain should you do this to? The one you have extensive personal history and a good read on.

[/ QUOTE ]

1.and you may fold out a smaller FD

[corsakh]

Its a personal choise I guess. If you get rakeback go for it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[dirtysanchez]

guys, gutshot+FD= teh nuts. not to even get into how pretty combo draws are and the fact that we almost always have an overcard. also, since when do villains fold FDs here?