07- 7-06, LearnTexasHoldem:
KK When Ace Flops
I've been playing No Limit Texas Hold'em for 6 months now and consider myself a reasonable player, but I have a tendency to get myself into all kinds of trouble when playing under the gun with big hands. I'm a big believer in information betting to help me understand how strong my hand is post flop but I often struggle with using that information to my advantage.
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Assume worst case, the turn card is another Ace and once again I'm first to act. I could put in another big raise or even go all in but this seems like throwing good money after bad - if I'm up against trips I'm not going to budge him out a big pot and if he calls the raise, I'm going to have the same dilemma on the river if I don't hit. However what I don't want to do is to check to him or put in a small bet as this will inevitably look like weakness and of course there is still a chance I'm still sitting on the winning hand so I don't want him to try to raise me out the pot.
What strategy would you suggest to play in this situation? Is it better to remain aggressive on the turn and then again on the river and accept that I might be paying the other player off handsomely or should I throw in the towel, check to him and be prepared to fold if he raises?
Love the site by the way. I've definitely improved my game using some of the techniques you've written about here.
Many thanks, Ian
Answer:
I like the fact that you understand a bet has many uses, one of which is a way to find out information. What I would add to that is be careful about betting a certain amount to accomplish something when you could have bet less and get the same result. A bet that is twice the amount of the pot, against a typical opponent, should be more than enough to let you know if he has you beat. I would think that a pot size bet would even be enough.
Playing a big pair when an Ace hits on the flop is really hard, especially when you don't have position on your opponent. The best way to play is to lead out on the flop and see what happens. Even a call on a board that doesn't have any draws is usually enough to let you know the opponent has an Ace. Remember that the Ace will be just as scary to someone else who doesn't have one as it is to you. Because he called a raise preflop and called you on the flop, chances are he does have you beat.
The options on the turn are to bet some, bet big, or check. Checking leaves you open to a bluff, but isn't always a bad idea. You have to give the opponent credit and if you check and he fires a beat; folding is your best option. Position is powerful and you can't really fight it. Betting big doesn't accomplish anything you want. If he doesn't have you beat, he will fold -- which you don't like. If he has you beat, you're just digging yourself in deeper -- which you also don't like. Then there is betting some, a defensive bet. I might bet the same amount I did on the flop. I like this play in no limit for a couple reasons. First of all, you protect yourself a little from him representing an Ace, because for him to raise now, he has to at least double your bet.
Next, from his perspective, if he doesn't have an Ace, your bet doesn't really look weak. For all he knows you could have a monster like trip Aces and your bet is just trying to suck him in. So don't think a small bet isn't taking seriously. In addition to this, you might actually get action from a hand like KT. A good rule to remember is that in no limit holdem, it is counter productive to bet more than a person with a worse hand can call with.
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