Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:27 pm GMT by Dat_Dude
This is a VERY basic limit hand question. Since in NL you can find more information out, I found this scenario difficult to put him on something.
At what point should I throw this hand away...or shouldn't I?
Hero is in the small blind with
A 8
Villain, that is UTG, 2-bets and everyone folds to me.
Hero call his 2-bet.
FLOP
A  J  4 
Hero bets (Wrong play with Top Pair at this point?)
Villain 2-Bets
Hero calls (Should I throw it away here?)
TURN
5
Hero checks
Villain checks
RIVER
9
Hero checks
Villain bets
Hero calls
SHOWDOWN:
Villain shows A J for two pair
Hero mucks his pair with medium kicker
Again, I realize this is a very basic hand, but I am just wondering if I should have tossed it earlier or did I play it right? Should I have just tossed it preflop?
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Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:22 pm GMT by zinn0
I'll be interested to see some of the 'limit specialists' responses here. I had a similar hand come up last night that I intend on posting once I get home from classes.
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:35 pm GMT by Sean_in_NJ
I usually fold this preflop. Otherwise, I play it exactly the same way.
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:55 pm GMT by Sid Lambert
I think i probably would've played it the same as you...but I really don't play limit anymore....seems so....inferior 
...and to think I started by playing limit
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:09 pm GMT by Dave B
Since it is heads up, I check to him and call him down. If I win, I might win one big bet less. If I lose, I might save one big bet on a turn or river raise.
If I make 2 pair, I might check raise. If the flop is AKx, or AQx, it would depend on the player. The reason isnt just AK or AQ, but AA KK QQ.
If he has a pocket pair, I am either behind or ahead w/ him betting out his 2 outer. He might catch, but I am 92%, I am OK w/ that. If you bet out and has 9s or 10s, he might fold. Check to him and he will bet into you. If he made his set, betting out will cost you more.
This is one of these hands where knowing your player is very profitable. If you have a donk that raises w/ 55 44 33 or J10 QJ KJ, then you can play the hand like you have the nuts until he slows you down. If you have a rock that only raise w/ a big Ace or face pair, then you need to be careful.
Fold preflop? Maybe. But you always do have odds here to call. The main problem w/ some low limit players is thinking top pair is stronger than it is. Countless times I will have AK flop AK4 and someone bets into me, I raise, they 3 bet. I will just call and pop them on the turn or river again.
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:49 pm GMT by kingetje
I ALWAYS fold A-X pre-flop unless Im in the big blind in FL
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:08 pm GMT by Skribbles
| kingetje wrote: | | I ALWAYS fold A-X pre-flop unless Im in the big blind in FL |
So wrong....
If you're on the button and there are 7 limpers before you, you will fold Axs?
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:24 pm GMT by tame_deuces
| Skribbles wrote: | | kingetje wrote: | | I ALWAYS fold A-X pre-flop unless Im in the big blind in FL |
So wrong....
If you're on the button and there are 7 limpers before you, you will fold Axs? |
Shiiit, with 7 limpers I'm raising. 
Posted Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:44 am GMT by lwestatbus
I really like Dave B's advice. I've been losing a lot of money lately by being too aggressive with top pair or two pair, even with a much better kicker. Suited Aces pointed this out to me in another post. In a limited trial, I've done much better by just calling down (most of the time) with an easily beatable strong hand.
The most of the time qualifier depends on the player and the character of the table. With a donk I'll be more aggressive. When a really tight player continues to call me I'll back off a lot. I'll also get hyper aggressive on the No Guts No Glory principle when I have a big ace and the board is absolute trash. If I can get all but one out after the turn I'll bet a blank on the river as well as I'm getting about a 50% fold rate heads up then with a lot of money in the pot for my extra bet.
One of Dave's comments is turning out to be pretty key for me--it doesn't gain me that much more to be aggressive but I risk more when I do so, especially against two callers.
Posted Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:26 pm GMT by UrAteUp
Dave's advice is great sound advice on playing hands such as this. If your not sure your ahead then isolate the villans ability to raise. My main poker game is NL but lately I have been playing limit as well.
Dat if you ever lay down A8s preflop in a limit game where everyone has limped in, then bang your head into the wall dude and turn the pc off... .
Seriously I love playing Axs hands in limit. When you hit a good draw you are almost always the nut hand. Heck if I see I have a good start to a flush draw I will often come in raising and trying to push people into 2 or 3 betting. I want to build that pot. I need to build that pot.
As far as this hand goes, I would have played it the exact same way and possibly worse if I would have paired my kicker as well....
Posted Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:44 pm GMT by Dave B
I fold anything A10 or below in limit. But he was in the blind, sooted and heads up, I call there.
If he had A8 suited in small blind w/ an early raiser and 2 callers, I fold every time. I likely have zero to three outs.
I might play A2 A3 A4 A5 if suited, or raise w/ Ax if in late position w/ no callers.
You will LOSE A TON OF MONEY in limit playing Ax.
Posted Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:48 am GMT by kingetje
| Skribbles wrote: | | kingetje wrote: | | I ALWAYS fold A-X pre-flop unless Im in the big blind in FL |
So wrong....
If you're on the button and there are 7 limpers before you, you will fold Axs? |
alright under these circumstances i might make the call... but only because theyre suited. i only want to play good aces in FL because you can almost bet your ass that there are more aces in the pot which will be better then yours most of the time if you play every ace you catch
| Dave B wrote: |
You will LOSE A TON OF MONEY in limit playing Ax. |
very true
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