[MICRO] Could this have been avoided?
No Limit Hold'em $0.01/$0.02
Winning Poker Network
9 players
Formatted by pokercopilot.com: Poker HUD for Mac and Windows
Stacks:
UTG - Hero ($2.27)
UTG+1 - UTG+1 ($1.35)
UTG+2 - UTG+2 ($0.80)
MP - MP ($2.03)
MP2 - MP2 ($2.49)
CO - CO ($5.39)
BTN - BTN ($2.26)
SB - SB ($1.91)
BB - BB ($2.00)
Preflop: ($0.03, 9 players) Hero is UTG with Ah As
Hero raises to $0.06, 7 folds, BB calls $0.04
Flop: Qc Tc 5s ($0.13, 2 players - Hero: $2.21, BB : $1.94)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.09, BB raises to $0.32, Hero raises to $1.09, BB raises to $1.94 (all-in), Hero calls $0.85
Turn: 7s ($4.01, 2 players, 1 all-in - Hero: $0.27, BB : $0.00)
River: Jd ($4.01, 2 players, 1 all-in - Hero: $0.27, BB : $0.00)
Total Pot: $4.01
Hero shows Ah As (a pair of Aces [As Ah Qc Jd Tc])
BB shows Ts Td (three of a kind, Set of Tens [Ts Td Tc Qc Jd])
BB wins $3.81 from main pot
I was hoping villain may have had a hand like a combo draw or a pair and a flush draw.
I doubt anyone makes this play with AQ but you never know.
I was worried about a hand like QT, TT or 55.
Should I have just called the check raise on the flop?
Stats on the villain (100 hand sample size):
VPIP: 16
PFR: 11
VPIP from BB: 33
Villain seemed pretty aggressive.
6 Replies
Hey Tony, welcome to the forums.
It's really common to start playing poker and focus on hands exactly like the one you are posting... and even more common for that hand to be exactly AA, getting it in behind, and asking specifically, "could I have gotten away from this?"
I'd strongly suggest you -not- focus on these types of hands and focus on basically everything else—the simpler the spot or question the better to ask and focus on.
As for the hand itself it really just depends. Your opponent can have QT, QQ, TT, 55 for value and any number of possible bluffs like KJ, AJ, J9, XXcc. I think in general for this situation it is significantly more likely villain has value for several reasons:
1. It's UTG vs. BB
2. RFI was 3bb
3. Hero's c-bet size was ~70%
4. The stakes are 2nl
5. Villain's stats over 100 hands are ~16/11
The above things make it less likely villain is bluffing.
But I want to emphasize that focusing on these types of hands (got it in with AA was I wrong?) is the wrong thing to primarily focus on if you're attempting to improve and new to the game.
I know you are posting this because you lost, but the result of a particular hand is meaningless. Plus, you didn’t have any info on villain’s hand when you played the flop. If you are looking for the best possible advice, please do NOT post results of the hand in the future. In this case, use a less revealing title like “AA check raised on the flop”, and stop the hand history at the first decision point. In this case you’d include all PF action, villain’s check, your bet and villain’s check/raise for the flop. Stop the history at that point since that is the first real decision in the hand.
FWIW, AA is a great starting hand, but unimproved it is only one pair. If villain just calls, sure keep on betting. When villains start playing back, you at least have to consider the possibility that they might have outflopped you. I’m not sure I fold to the c/r but I’m also not three betting it. I would likely call and reevaluate OTT.
Thank you for your advice - it is much appreciated.
What do you think would be the best use of time for a beginner studying NLH?
I agree with your breakdown of the hand.
Thanks again!
Thank you for your input.
I will be sure to keep your advice in mind for future posts.
Thank you for your advice - it is much appreciated.
What do you think would be the best use of time for a beginner studying NLH?
I agree with your breakdown of the hand.
Thanks again!
Your first priority should be preflop gameplay. You'll basically want to memorize:
1. raise first in (RFI) for all positions + know which hands for each position are ~0EV
2. 3B or fold ranges for all positions except BB
3. BB defense vs. all positions and sizings (2.0, 2.5, 3.0) and which hands are ~0EV
4. 3B ranges from BB vs RFI
5. call/fold/4b ranges vs. 3B + how sizings + construction of 3B range influence strategy
Once you think you are reasonably good at the above (let's say know about ~70% of above), then you can shift focus. In order to understand poker at a high level you need to be able to think in terms of ranges rather than specific hands. In order to do this, you must first be able to understand and visualize your own ranges and the first step to accomplishing this by coming adept at preflop. Preflop play has a lot of reverberations throughout the game tree since this is what is mostly dictating the ranges you will eventually use to attempt to understand postflop play. It also has the added benefits of being the easiest to analyze, easiest to learn, and essentially has the biggest impact for how much effort is required.
Great advice, thank you.
