Did I play my Aces wrong?

Is this just a "Aces cracked, sucks to be you" post, or should I have done something different? Do I back off when he keeps calling?

I really didn't have a read on him.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) converter

Hero ($3.18)
MP ($2.36)
CO ($1.60)
Button ($1.93)
SB ($0.99)
BB ($2.49)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A:club:, A:spade:.
Hero raises to $0.10, MP calls $0.10, CO calls $0.10, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds.

Flop: ($0.33) J:spade:, 5:diamond:, 8:spade: (3 players)
Hero bets $0.30, MP calls $0.30, CO folds.

Turn: ($0.93) K:club: (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, MP calls $0.50.

River: ($1.93) 4:heart: (2 players)
Hero bets $1.50, MP calls $1.46 (All-In).

Final Pot: $4.89

Results in white:
Hero has Ac As (one pair, aces).
MP has 5h Kh (two pair, kings and fives).
Outcome: MP wins $4.85. Hero wins $0.04.


Rob

You got it.

It's hard to read since he's playing it so passively. No reason to believe you're losing.

-'rilla

Nice Starting Hand, chitty luck Rob.
You just learned a Dime aint gonna do it Pre-Flop.
You are Early Position, Chip Leader, with the best Starting Hand in Texas Hold’em.
Just got beat by K5 suited.
Given that flop, he had no choice but to hang with ya.
I hope you see that.
$.40 to see the turn.

You just witnessed what K5s is worth to that player, it’s a dime pre-flop!
that’s info!
Conversely, He just witnessed AA are worth just a dime for you.
Unfortunately, that’s info too!
I don’t like allowing the table to see me lose quality starting hands pussy footin around like that.
For me personally, that’s the worst thing that happened in this hand!
Until I gain command of the Table or establish Table Presence I tend to play my hands hard.
Allowing them to see it’s only worth a dime to ya, from the big stack, then losing with ‘em, they are going to second guess your authority from now on.
It’s only natural.

If you don’t want to go ALL IN pre-flop,
Then try this
RAISE Pre-Flop to a Quarter.
AA, KK, QQ, AKsuited, AQsuited
From now on , just try it, see what happens.
Take it for a drive, spin.
Even if you lose with ‘em,
(I think you’ll win more than you’ll lose, don’t get me wrong here, lol)
Then they see you aint messin around.
(Expect to go ALL IN if someone bets over the top)
You’ll gain greater control on the flop,
Greater advantage to bluff,
slow-play etc.
It will open a lot more doors of opportunity than you think.
Then the table will give ya more respect that way even in a losing effort.
They empathize with ya when they see ya losing it like this AA vs K5s here.
You know, start second guessing ya and stuff.
YUCK!
Empathy don’t gain respect!

For me,
my betting would have been in reverse than what took place here.
If I didn’t go all in pre-flop or flop for that matter.

But lets use the strategy outlined above:
$.84 Pot Pre-Flop assuming the other two called
Flop: Jc 5d 8s
BAMM, I’m betting Pot or a $1
Would MP call here? K5 hearts?
$2.07 your stack betting pot
$1.25 MP stack if he calls
Considering spending $1.11 total to see turn
on a pair of fives he has no spades
Versus
He called K5 with
$1.96 MP stack when he called
Did spend $.40 total to see turn
He got a good deal if you ask me.
He gambled, but for $.40, what the hell.

Slow playing quality hands pre-flop is harder IMO.
Especially from the Early Position.
More players will be involved in the flop
Plus
you gotta become an expert reading the dang flop if it doesn’t go your way.
Therefore you gonna hafta to be more willing to give up on those Aces.
That aint easy.
If you are going to slow-play it,
do it from the post-flop LATE POSITION.
PRACTICE FROM THERE!
It forces ya to learn position, and I find it’s easier to gain reads from there.
In doubt, just check or call!
Also checking wont be automatically considered a weakness if its necessary to do!

Playing it the way that you did, absent reads, I would have either bet the same .30 or checked on turn and certainly bet lower or checked on the river.
I’m looking for reaction plus I’m last to act if he raises or bets!
And you were in doubt!
So was I BTW when I initially played along.
Again my goal overall is to NOT EVER let the table see me KILL quality hands.
I’d rather naw my right arm off!

EVERY HAND, YOU GOTTA LEARN SOMETHING!
If you aint, STEP BACK and watch!