Columbo's Rotating Mystery: Ace-Ace

We're in an online MTT, just past the first break. We have an above average stack of 9K.

Blinds are 120/240, with a 25 ante.

It's folded around to the button - a player who we know nothing about - and he pops it to 1,200, leaving him 5K behind.

We're in the SB, and look down at A-A.

The mystery:

How do we get our opponent's chips? Go for it now, or wait for the flop? And if so, what do you plan to do on the flop?

Times file photo

Comments

[Godard]

This sounds pretty easy. A raise on the button could mean a strong hand, or a position steal. I don't foresee you getting a lot of chips from him if it's a position steal, especially since you are out of position on the flop.

Also, many buttons will not respect a reraise from the blind, because it just looks like you're trying to push around a stealer.

He only has 5000 chips left. You want to RERAISE just enough so that he is given juicy odds preflop, and is also pot-committed after the flop. A reraise to 2800 total is almost a min-raise, and will put 5860 in the pot (if your opponent calls). That also means your opponent will only have 3400 left after the flop when you push in the dark (well not really in the dark, but you're gonna push no matter what). Double juicy odds, and all of his stack is in there. If he refuses to call either preflop or post flop, then he was probably on a pure steal, and you weren't gonna get the chips anyway.

[Marcus]

This is a hand that happened to me quite often lately but - guess - not to my advantage most of the times when I play the $5 SnGs.

Normally I would reraise pot preflop to find out where I stand and to drive some people out. What happens most of the time to me, is that some idiot with A rag suited calls my reraise, my continuation bet against all odds and makes the flush on the turn or river...

So from that experience I would shove right now. At least I would know that I got my money in with the best hand...

Without that experience I would reraise pot and than see what happens. If he reraises I would shove / call. If he just calls I have to give him credit for something: high pair, AK, AQ, probably suited. Then after a "safe" flop - I havent seen in my last online hands - I would shove and pray...

Cheers,

Marcus aka msc1204

[JLBSox]

I like Godard's analysis. You have to re-raise preflop. I would personally give it the min raise. I know this looks fishy, but most players aren't sharp enough to figure it out. If he calls the min raise,there is almost no way he can get away from this hand post flop with less than 4K left. If he bets on the flop I would probably just call, which should completely pot commit him.
Remember, we want him putting all of his chips in the pot here. You don't worry about when the chips go in. If he draws out on you then you got unlucky. A call preflop followed by a check raise may well allow him to get away from the hand.

[Newtskins]

This is simple... "I'm ALL IN"

[JLBSox]

Newt, I think you will almost certainly lose the raiser with the "ALL IN" move. We want all of his chips, not just the ones that are already in the pot.

[Beef Jerky]

If you want all his chips in the pot in this hand, you migth ocnsider jsut walking the dog here. I'd call and check the flop, giving him a chance to make the continuation bet. You might even check in the dark?!?! If the flop is very scarry for your AA, then you might want to re-raise all in to get him off a possible draw, depending on whether or not he's pot committed at this point. If the flop is safe, and he checked behind you, then you have to bet the turn all in and hope he feels committed and calls. Point is, if he was originally just trying to steal on the button with rags, then he'll fold to a bet on the flop if he missed the flop. If you want him to put money in the pot in this scenario, then you'll need to induce him to try shoot the second bullet at this pot, and maybe even a third.

[Michael Myers]

I would usually do a min raise here. I want to be heads up, and actually, I don't really mind if the button folds here. The thing is, chances are he will not hit this flop so to get more chips in from this guy I think we need to reraise now. Then it could be interpreted by the button as a resteal (and he'll push), or his hand is strong enough to call. If he folds to min-raise, we weren't getting any more chips from him anyway. The key thing for me is that just calling could induce a call from the big blind, and I hate being up against more than one player when I have the rockets.

[bajas64]

I agree with Beef Jerky. I would walk the dog to check the flop so he would continuation bet. BUT THAT IS IT!

I would reraise all in after his continuation bet and pray he follows with something weak because he is pot comitted, OR hope he folds out and is seriously weakened. Either way he will be in the tough spot by having all the pressure on him.

The biggest thing I have learned with AA is "better to win small then to lose BIG." The point i am making is that with AA preflop you can be VERY aggressive here. After the flop, his simple 23 could beat you with pairing both cards and you wouldn't be the wiser. Being careful here and taking what you can without getting greedy is the best play I think.

[bajas64]

I agree with Beef Jerky. I would walk the dog to check the flop so he would continuation bet. BUT THAT IS IT!

I would reraise all in after his continuation bet and pray he follows with something weak because he is pot comitted, OR hope he folds out and is seriously weakened. Either way he will be in the tough spot by having all the pressure on him.

The biggest thing I have learned with AA is "better to win small then to lose BIG." The point i am making is that with AA preflop you can be VERY aggressive here. After the flop, his simple 23 could beat you with pairing both cards and you wouldn't be the wiser. Being careful here and taking what you can without getting greedy is the best play I think.

[JLBSox]

bajas,
What's the difference between walking the dog and check raise shoving? Either way all your money goes in the middle. Your method is more likely to get less of his chips. I think this is a case where you are simply trying to get him to put all of his chips in the middle. Of course there will be times when you get sucked out on. That's poker.