$10.80 NL HE MTT: AA in BTN

[mariussica88]

Game

Hold'em

Game Format

No Limit

Table Format

MTT

Buy-in

10.80

Game Options

1. Bounty

Currency

$

This is the first hand for the CO in this tournament, so I don't have any reads. Do you guys call his shove? This is still the first level of the tournament, played only 11 hands.

GGPoker, Hold'em No Limit - 50/100 (15 ante) - 8 players

UTG: 14,819 (148 bb)
UTG+1: 5,700 (57 bb)
MP: 13,389 (134 bb)
MP+1: 8,781 (88 bb)
CO: 10,000 (100 bb)
BU (Hero): 9,435 (94 bb)
SB: 9,400 (94 bb)
BB: 9,485 (95 bb)

Pre-Flop: (270) Hero is BTN with A♣ A♦
4 players fold, CO raises to 250, Hero 3-bets to 920, 2 players fold, CO calls 670

Flop: (2,110) 6♠ A♥ 9♦ (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets 655, CO calls 655

Turn: (3,420) 8♠ (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets 1,821, CO calls 1,821

River: (7,062) 7♠ (2 players)
CO bets 6,589 (all-in), Hero ?

 

[fundiver199]

Preflop
Like your sizing here. Normally its fine to go 3X in position, but here stacks are very deep (for a tournament at least), and going larger create a more favourable SPR and get more value of course.

Flop
Actually not the best flop, since you have pretty big board lock, so it will be difficult to get paid. Its way better to have 99 here, so that he can have 3 times as many AX combos. Small C-bet is fine with your range and even more with this specific hand.

Turn
Now the board got wetter, and you size up. I still really like everything here.

River
This is literally the worst card in the deck and also the worst action. First thing to note is, that As is unseen, so he can definitely have the nut flush. And he could also have a straight with hands like TT or maybe T9s. So there is definitely some value, you lose to, and it makes sense, that he would lead for value, because you are checking back a ton of hands on this card. So even though it totally sucks to flop top set and end up folding it, I would let this one go and live to fight another day. I would be much more happy to call, if I had As, because I think, the nut flush makes up most of his value range. Blockers sometimes get to much attention, but here I think, they really matter. So much in fact, that I would rather make a hero call with AK or AQ, as long as I had As.

 

[mariussica88]

Preflop
Like your sizing here. Normally its fine to go 3X in position, but here stacks are very deep (for a tournament at least), and going larger create a more favourable SPR and get more value of course.

Flop
Actually not the best flop, since you have pretty big board lock, so it will be difficult to get paid. Its way better to have 99 here, so that he can have 3 times as many AX combos. Small C-bet is fine with your range and even more with this specific hand.

Turn
Now the board got wetter, and you size up. I still really like everything here.

River
This is literally the worst card in the deck and also the worst action. First thing to note is, that As is unseen, so he can definitely have the nut flush. And he could also have a straight with hands like TT or maybe T9s. So there is definitely some value, you lose to, and it makes sense, that he would lead for value, because you are checking back a ton of hands on this card. So even though it totally sucks to flop top set and end up folding it, I would let this one go and live to fight another day. I would be much more happy to call, if I had As, because I think, the nut flush makes up most of his value range. Blockers sometimes get to much attention, but here I think, they really matter. So much in fact, that I would rather make a hero call with AK or AQ, as long as I had As.

Thank you so much for the reply. Here is the full hand:

Spoiler: Hand

GGPoker, Hold'em No Limit - 50/100 (15 ante) - 8 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

UTG: 14,819 (148 bb)
UTG+1: 5,700 (57 bb)
MP: 13,389 (134 bb)
MP+1: 8,781 (88 bb)
CO: 10,000 (100 bb)
BU (Hero): 9,435 (94 bb)
SB: 9,400 (94 bb)
BB: 9,485 (95 bb)

Pre-Flop: (270) Hero is BTN with A♣ A♦
4 players fold, CO raises to 250, Hero 3-bets to 920, 2 players fold, CO calls 670

Flop: (2,110) 6♠ A♥ 9♦ (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets 655, CO calls 655

Turn: (3,420) 8♠ (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets 1,821, CO calls 1,821

River: (7,062) 7♠ (2 players)
CO bets 6,589 (all-in), Hero calls 6,024 (all-in)

Total pot: 19,110

Showdown:
CO shows 4♥ 7♥ (a pair of Sevens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 20%, Flop: 7%, Turn: 18%, River: 0%)

BU (Hero) shows A♣ A♦ (three of a kind, Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 80%, Flop: 93%, Turn: 82%, River: 100%)

BU (Hero) wins 19,110

I really took a gamble here and went with my gut, I took all of my time bank here. Also I think a big factor was that since it was the first level, I could re-enter again and "start over". On the long term I really don't feel like this is a good play especially when you do not have any info on the opponent.....

 

[fundiver199]

So he did in fact turn one pair into a bluff, and clearly this opponent was a bit of a maniac type player. Calling a 3-bet out of position with a really bad hand, continuing on the flop with nothing but backdoor draws, picking up one of the draws on the turn, missing his draw but making a pair, and then turning that pair into a big river bluff on an obvious scary card. With some information thats the kind of player, where maybe we close our eyes and make the call.

But its still true, what I wrote about blockers. Just because he was bluffing this time, does not mean, he is always bluffing, so it is important to block his most obvious value, which you did not. And if he can have 74s, he can also have 75s, 85s or 95s, which rivered a straight, and maybe he then jam those hands for value. So his wide range give him more potential value and well as more potential bluffs.

So I agree, that while it worked this time, you probably dont want to make this kind of hero call to often without some kind of info. But with that being said I am a bit of a nit. And maybe there is also some argument for considering an unknown player to be a complete maniac until proven otherwise. It depends on, how the population on GG Poker play at this level.