Big Slick question

Hi guys,

It's my first post here, and I'd like to start with a question about Big Slick. I've just recently finished reading Phil Gordon's Little Green Book, so I've really been focusing on following up strength before the flop with strength after the flop, as well as keeping an aggressive game.

This situation happened at a $2-3-5 NLHE table at Bay 101. I had been playing fairly tight, but not my best game. I was UTG+2 for this hand, starting with $165. UTG+1 was an obviously very sharp player (as well as having a card dealer badge around her neck) and had me easily covered. I was dealt AsKs. UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $15. She had been splashing around a bit recently (though seemingly with decent hands), and I recalled Gordon's book saying that when you have a drawing hand, you want to try to win the pot right there. So I raised to $60, even though I mostly expected a call. Folds around to her, she thinks for a second, calls $45.

Flop is J-9-4 rainbow. She checks. I figure this is weakness, plus I've been a bit tight, so I decide to move all in. She thinks for a while, counts out $105, then calls.

Turn and river are blank-blank, she turns over T-T. As she rakes in my chips she says "I'm sorry but I really thought you had A-K."

So, my main question is, when is it good to move all in after the flop in that situation? Why could I not have been holding AA, KK, or QQ? Any ideas on what might have given me away? If I had a high pocket pair, would I have been correct to play the same way? Thanks very much!

Would you have shoved all in with AA KK or QQ?

Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms

Would you have shoved all in with AA KK or QQ?

Probably as we only have 105 behind and the pot is around 120, I'm deffo not checking behind with QQ or KK. Also, I'm not regularly checking behind with AA either.

Trainer makes a good point, but altogether I like the play. You make a man's re-raise preflop (4x) and get in when you're likely ahead (if she missed) or drawing.

The play does reek of AK though. The large re-raise seems like a weak hand "protecting" (QQ/KK/AA might raise a smaller amount to rope the sucker in). Also, the overpair would likely make a milking bet on the flop, or else check behind to trap, rather than blasting another hand out of the pot. The dealer made a good read.

Can't fault your play though, it probably was break even equity for you anyway. (120+2+3+5 = $130 in pot, so even if she put you all-in, you'd have to call $105 into 235, which is 2.3 to 1. If you figure you have 6 clean outs- which you did- you're almost getting a good price. This is not to mention that YOU were the one doing the shoving- so add fold equity on top).