Not quite a set, but....

My opponent here is another mult-tabling TAgg. 20/5 split, however I've seen him re-raise AQs before and he certainly has cause to do something like that against me. Deep money further complicates things.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Fnord ($185.50)
MP1 ($97.95)
MP2 ($93.90)
MP3 ($127.30)
CO ($226)
Button ($126.85)
SB ($69.35)
BB ($100)
UTG ($100)

Preflop: Fnord is UTG+1 with 9, 9.
1 fold, Fnord raises to $3, 3 folds, CO raises to $9, 3 folds, Fnord calls $6.

Flop: ($19.50) 8, 5, 7 (2 players)
Fnord checks, CO bets $10, Fnord raises to $30...

I like it. AK/AQ makes this play more often than not.

How is raising better than calling here?

Originally Posted by Fnord

How is raising better than calling here?

Raising gives you more information, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy just flat out folded to your flop raise.

Raising keeps you in the lead in the hand, and keeps your opponents to be doing the decision making.

It may be the 'safe' strategy, rather than let him bluff you to the river, but it's definitely the one I'd choose.

You can lose a lot of money with the smaller overpair in situations like these, I tend to err on the weak side and give a preflop reraiser credit for a big pair unless I have information that tells me otherwise. I call the flop and reevaluate on the turn, if he shows weakness I raise him there or I let it go if I read him as strong. You also give yourself a chance at hitting that gutshot or one of the two nines left in the deck.

I don't know if I like it. You have to be right more than 50% of the time here. It's very risky. The real question is, does the player re-raise weak preflop enough to justify this play? It takes more than seeing someone reraise AQs preflop one time to spin me in this direction.

What do you do if he smooth calls with position on you and a broadway comes? Do you just give up against a deep bet? I think you get yourself committed in that case.

Originally Posted by Rondavu

I don't know if I like it. You have to be right more than 50% of the time here.

I only think you have to be right 50% of the time you don't hit. 6 outs is not to be sneezed at when you could well be ahead already. I don't assume a big pair with a reraise -- maybe the guy really wanted it HU? That's a clue...

This kinda reminds me of gabe's thread contra raising with the kings "for information" when an A was onbaord. I think the difference is that in that hand there wasn't much possibility of getting behind if you weren't already. On this one there's quite a bit of shifting left for the ground to do.

Any card A-T ruins you here and I think you're done with the hand. A six is ideal, of course.

The value of raising is that you get the pot now if you're ahead, but also that opp's response is useful. A call means you are indeed ahead, but opp is wrong about the implied odds 'cause you're not putting more in if heshe pairs up.

A reraise/push obviously means you're overpaired -- I don't think he's pushing with the other two nines, but it's conceivable and that'd just be your bad luck i guess.

And the other advantage to the raise is that if you hit the pot has a good chance to get to $300+

i like the raise here.
two things. If he has an overpair (hence preflop reraise) he now has to be a least contemplate you had a pp or suited connectors that have hit this flop (unless you dont play them like this of course)
second the reraise may and only may make him reraise you back or push telling you where you stand.
I guess the reraise on the flop is buying you information but also you are taking the position of aggressor from opp. Thats why id reraise anyway and why i like it

I like the re-raise. A call guarantees you see another card which could sink you. You want to win it right here. If he calls, you re-evaluate on the turn…Likely laying down to a scare card + bet. If he calls and a blank comes you have to carefully evaluate the action for you are likely overpaired. It’s a gutsy move with the PFR but I think he did it with unpaired broadways.

He pushed, with an 185bb effective stack size no way I could call. I figured I misplayed it, but thought I'd see if the "raise to see where I'm at" crowd agreed.

I got him back later though...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP1 ($33.50)
Fnord ($141.55)
CO ($83.35)
Button ($200.35)
SB ($63)
BB ($100)
UTG ($59.95)
UTG+1 ($271)

Preflop: Fnord is MP2 with A, A.
UTG calls $1, 2 folds, Fnord raises to $4, 3 folds, BB calls $3, UTG calls $3.

Flop: ($12.50) 9, T, Q (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Fnord bets $10, BB raises to $30, UTG folds, Fnord raises to $137.55, BB thinks..... folds.

Final Pot: $180.05