Playing this A-A hand better?

Playing in a live 1/2NL game in a local casino. I've been playing tight-passive for 3 hours because my cards are running bad. Even a bunch of $2 limps go nowhere. Anyway, just wondering if there was a better way to play this?

BB: Aggressive, bets into me every hand I play, $1200 stack
EP1: Aggressive, hitting on the river a lot, $2200 stack
EP2: Unknown, $100 buy-in stack
Button: Hero, $195 stack TPP and everyone is well aware of my folding

Most hands are either everyone limping or 3-4 players in for $7-$17 each PF. Lots of straddles going on.

Situation:
EP1: Raise $17
EP2: Call $17
Hero: Pocket A-A, Call $17 (not to arouse too much suspicion)
BB: Call $17

Flop: A-9-3 rainbow

Everyone checks to me and I check fearing no one calls. I still believe that at least 1 of the 2 aggressors will try to steal on the turn if another low card shows.

Turn: 6

BB: Bets $25
EP1: Deliberates a long time, calls $25
EP2: Folds
Hero: Calls

BB sits quiet and EP1 goes nuts asking if I'm using my ultra-tight image to bluff

River: Q, no flush/straight possible

BB: Checks
EP1: Checks
Hero: I bet $20 for mostly for value, but partially hoping either would try to come over top of my weak bet.

BB: folds
EP1: Surprisingly calls $20 considering I haven't played a hand past the flop in over 1.5 hours. He didn't show but my guess was he had top 2 pair, maybe with a backdoor flush draw.

I net $118...

My question is: would an all-in move have looked like some sort of bluff that could possibly get called or is it just completely saying I've got a set of Aces? I figured getting another $20 into a ~$140 pot that he almost has to call is better than making him fold...

You have the nuts, you need to build a pot at some stage and get it all in. Ok so you just call pre as most layers will be able to get away from your uber tight reraise.

Personally, the turn seems a good spot to reraise to $70 and get it in on the river. Or as played I bet more for value on the river, say $50/60 considering the pot is almost $150.

You only need to get a call for the bigger bet 1/3 the time to make it as profitable as the $20, which doesn't seem that unreasonable.

There is no way any of these players can put you on a set of aces considering the preflop action. The $20 was probably almost worth it to see how gay you played this hand, a lot of information for the table for later hands.


BTW the pot is bigger than ~$120.

4x17 calls pre + blinds
3x75 calls on turn
2x20 calls river

=180

Originally Posted by PokerMuzz

Personally, the turn seems a good spot to reraise to $70 and get it in on the river. Or as played I bet more for value on the river, say $50/60 considering the pot is almost $150.

BB would've folded to a raise on the turn mostly likely. So even though it ends up heads-up basically you're saying put in the money on the turn instead of the river so
A) EP1 still thinks he has a chance since there's another card left to come
B) I have the chance to put in more money

Seems like a better strategy...

Originally Posted by PokerMuzz

There is no way any of these players can put you on a set of aces considering the preflop action. The $20 was probably almost worth it to see how gay you played this hand, a lot of information for the table for later hands.

I'll take that, I see I played it as a total wimp. I just started playing poker a little over a month ago and realize that building confidence and being less weak is my #1 priority. I was probably over-thinking how much my image to that point came into play.

Originally Posted by PokerMuzz

BTW the pot is bigger than ~$120.

4x17 calls pre + blinds
3x75 calls on turn
2x20 calls river
=180

That's 3x25 calls on the turn, $75 total, so the pot was $140 going into the river after the rake.

I did manage to get KK, TT after this hand and they both flopped a winning set also. This definitely was my best night since I started playing, but it sounds like it could've been a lot better.

preflop is bad with a raise and a call infront and the blinds still to act especially since theres a shorty in there who probably wants to see a flop no matter what.

Flop check is ok I guess but turn smooth call is bad. Youve finally got some action. Start building a pot.