Aces facing a check raise on a safe flop, no limit cash

DailyHandQuiz

Game type: 1/2 NL Cash on Full Tilt
Your image: Aggressive
Opponent’s image: No strong read
Your hand: A♦A♣

The setup: You’ve picked up a few chips by playing strong, but you haven’t gone to any showdowns yet. You’re raising about 25% of hands preflop this session.

You haven’t had a confrontation with your opponent in this hand yet. Here, you’re dealt aces in the CO. The first two players to act fold, and you raise to $7. The button and SB fold and the BB calls. You flop safe:

2♦9♠Q♣

The BB checks and you bet $12 into $15, within your standard continuation bet size range this session. Now the BB check raises you to $30 total.

What’s your play?

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13 COMMENTS (Jump to comment form)

DHQ Staff

A small check raise on a relatively dry board usually means a mediocre made hand that’s looking for information / to take down the pot cheaply or a strong hand that’s looking to build the pot and stack you on an installment plan.

The more aggressive you are, the more likely I think it is to be the first. The more of a nit or a station you are, the more likely I think it is to be the second.

With the level of activity you’ve shown, I doubt you’re getting credit for a strong hand from your opponent. That said, I don’t think you’ll get too much of his range that you’re beating to call a three bet here. If you call, that will make you seem pretty weak and put $85 in the middle. Once you call, I think you’re likely to see the BB lead again on the turn, in which case he’ll be far more likely to commit with a weaker hand when you raise. He’ll also be more likely to call a bet if he decides to check the turn.

Either way, it seems like calling here gets you the most money out of the weakest parts of his range. In exchange, you probably have to fade 5 outs or so, which isn’t that bad, especially since you have a couple of outs when he does make 2 pair or trips.

What actually happened: You re-raised all in and your opponent folded.

[Reply]

silver

I agree with the staff on this one. Only calling his CR will have your opponent worried, and the typical c-bet looked like an attempt to steal the pot. Your opponent will have a wide range for calling you pre-flop due to your activity.

Let’s consider the hands that have you beat: 22, 99, QQ, Q9, 29.
No one in their right mind playing $1/2 NL would call with 29. Q9 is a slim possibility. You shouldn’t be too worried about QQ here since that would warrant a re-raise pre-flop. 99 would only call pre-flop, and 22 as well, for the implied odds. At least, that should be the standard line for a player whom you have no real read on.

My guess is the villain had TP with a mediocre kicker, and might have put you on AQ KQ, but definitely not KK or AA.

[Reply]

Billy

I said call. I put him on QT or QJ… AQ isnt folding to a push there I wouldn’t think. Just depends on the player I guess.

Call and look for a safe small card. Fold if you see another queen though, stay in to the end if a small card pairs.

[Reply]

kaimano

The staff is right. The raise gives information for free…we have position…call and let him commit his stack on the turn

[Reply]

drhoho

Standard situation, standard call.

In general, 3-betting the flop is the way to scare anything but a monster away. He is looking for info, don’t give it to him.
He looks like top pair, let him be in trouble when he is out of position on turn.

If the turn is low and safe, you can raise him all in on turn. If it is Q it is an easy fold. K,J,T,8 are more creepy turn, as they migth give him straigth or two pair. On those turns I would hope he checks so I can check behind for pot control. If he leads out too strong, I migth fold on those turns, depending on my gut-feel.

[Reply]

onlinepokerincome.com

Good analysis by everyone, but there really is nothing wrong with making it $75 here. You’ve been pounding, he’s sick of it, so there is a good chance he will call with any queen.

And sometimes when he draws out you’ll be kicking yourself for not raising. By raising you keep your aggressive image and put the table on notice that if they want to play back be prepared to put all your chips in. (Seems like a good message to send at this juncture.)

[Reply]

Chad Gerson

Agree with everyone including OPI.com. I’d consider a min raise too, just to make him think.

[Reply]

Jezzta

Yeah I like raising here, even just enough to deny him the odds of even hitting a second card (if he already has a pair). I agree with opi.com, nice smallish raise (under 9o) could possibly get him to make a stand against you and put in all his chips at once.

[Reply]

wow

terrible analysis from all of you

[Reply]

Fredhorgan

BB defends with Q9 suited..

[Reply]

Fredhorgan

Check raise means aces cracked…

[Reply]

thailer

The villian could also be playing 10/J here and I prefer a raise to about $75 make him pay to draw. If he does have 2 pair or a set we still have outs. If an 8 or a K falls we have to consider folding to river aggression.

[Reply]

Paul McGreevy

Check raise is good clue to set or 2 pr. Just call and see what he does on next card. He may just check it down now or make a small bet on turn or river. Fold to strength, look for a better spot.

[Reply]