How did I play these aces?
I've recently just started playing for real money after trying to hone a more Tagg style play doing the rounds at the play money tables - so I entered my first SNG today and wanted some analysis/advice on how I played a particular hand and what I could do to refine my game.
$5 + $.50 SNG at PokerStars - 9 players.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)
SB (t1535)
Hero (t1490)
UTG (t2895)
MP1 (t1470)
MP2 (t1960)
CO (t3070)
Button (t1080)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif.
UTG calls t20, 1 fold, MP2 raises to t40, CO calls t40, Button calls t40, 1 fold, Hero raises to t200, UTG calls t180, MP2 calls t160, CO calls t160, Button calls t160.
Flop: (t1010) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (5 players)
Hero bets t150, UTG calls t150, MP2 calls t150, CO folds, Button folds.
Turn: (t1460) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (3 players)
Hero bets t150, UTG calls t150, MP2 calls t150.
River: (t1910) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (3 players)
Hero bets t300, UTG calls t300, MP2 folds.
Final Pot: t2510
Results in white below:
Hero has Ah Ad (three of a kind, aces).
UTG has Ts Jd (one pair, tens).
Outcome: Hero wins t2510.
I'd been at the table for maybe 10 minutes throwing away junk and calling small PF raises with small pocket pairs (2 - 2 through to 8 - 8) hoping to hit a set and put on the pressure post-flop, not getting too involved in anything while I got a feel for the table and the people I was playing with - lots of loose agressive players from all positions, especially the UTG and MP2 in my hand above - so my plan was to raise x10BB pre-flop, because I know I'd get both of them to follow me, especially after the x2BB raise from MP2.
I had a small read on UTG - knowing he raises pre-flop with anything from small pocket pairs to Q - 1o, but raises higher than x2BB with anythign from A - 10 upwards, so I didn't put him on anything bigger than Q - 1o.
So, were my bet amounts correct? Should I have pushed all-in after the turn, considering I knew anyone with the other Ace or a set of fives would have called? I did feel a little uncomfortable being out of position, and considered maybe checking the flop to induce some bets and re-raising, but I didn't want to slow play it all the way to the river and come out with less than 2K in chips, so I tried to keep both of them in hoping they either had the other ace or flopped a set o' fives.
Am I on the right track, and is there anything you could suggest I could do to refine my game etc..
Thanks - and I placed 2nd, for anyone who was wondering.