Interesting... need opinions.

[THaC]

PokerStars Game #3393931921: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2005/12/21 - 06:11:05 (ET)
Table 'Deiphobus IV' Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: Carl cash ($27.35 in chips)
Seat 2: Meenmachine ($9.25 in chips)
Seat 3: pokerpint ($11.25 in chips)
Seat 4: ohmyohmy77 ($10.60 in chips)
Seat 6: TbHackworth ($23.90 in chips)
Seat 7: ogtsupa ($27.25 in chips)
Seat 8: Wahoo2006 ($36.20 in chips)
Seat 9: koba777 ($24.65 in chips)
Carl cash: posts small blind $0.10
Meenmachine: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TbHackworth [3s As]
pokerpint: calls $0.25
ohmyohmy77: folds
TbHackworth: calls $0.25
ogtsupa: folds
Wahoo2006: folds
koba777: folds
Carl cash: calls $0.15
Pliskin S. has returned
Meenmachine: checks
*** FLOP *** [Js 3h Ks]
Carl cash: checks
Meenmachine: checks
pokerpint: checks
TbHackworth: bets $1
Carl cash: folds
Meenmachine: folds
pokerpint: calls $1
*** TURN *** [Js 3h Ks] [Ac]
pokerpint: bets $0.50
TbHackworth: raises $2 to $2.50
pokerpint: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Js 3h Ks Ac] [9d]
pokerpint: bets $0.75
TbHackworth: raises $1.25 to $2
pokerpint: calls $1.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TbHackworth: shows [3s As] (two pair, Aces and Threes)
pokerpint: shows [9s Ad] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
pokerpint collected $11.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $12 | Rake $0.55
Board [Js 3h Ks Ac 9d]
Seat 1: Carl cash (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Meenmachine (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: pokerpint showed [9s Ad] and won ($11.45) with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 4: ohmyohmy77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: TbHackworth showed [3s As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 7: ogtsupa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Wahoo2006 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: koba777 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I don't have any reads on pokerpint, but what should I have done differently, or was there no way to avoid this? He calls the flop, so I figure maybe he has a jack, a king with a low kicker, or a flush draw. Should I have bet the turn harder, or did I bet a good amount? Basically, was there any way to limit my losses, or was this inevitable?

[Irisheyes]

I know this ain't what you want to hear but there is a very easy way to avoid this and thats to fold Axs/Ax preflop. Its true though. Axs will loose you more $$ then you'll ever make with it.

Post flop it looks ok, theres not much you can do after you catch the too pair.

[THaC]

Actually, it is what I wanted to hear, but I can explain why I played it. Seat 7, 8, 9 were playing extremely tight, and I didn't have a read on pokerpint, but I didn't think he had anything tremendously good. I figured I had position on everyone with odds to stay in, and if I didn't I'd fold on the flop.

[EricE]

Postflop play is fine. Thats poker baby!

[bdawg56kg]

Preflop I would fold A3s, but since you had a read then I'm fine with limping it. Flop and turn look good, but I'd probably just call the river bet, but I don't think raising the river is such a bad play either. Also, be sure to add pokerpint to your buddy list.

Edit: Looking back at the way this hand was played out, I like the river raise. Villian's bet looks like a weak blocking bet that wants a cheap showdown.

[BankItDrew]

If he calls your first raise then bets on the next street - don't raise without a monster.

[Rondavu]

Don't focus on the result. Focus on the fact that it was correct to bet or raise when you had two pair aces and threes in a pot where no one seemed extremely confident. Your goal is to put as much money into the pot that you feel will get called when you have a hand with a great chance to show down a winner. That's what you did. You played it perfectly after the turn. Sometimes you just get beat. Shake it off and move on.

Poker isn't about one hand. It's about making good choices consistently. You made a couple bad choices preflop and on the flop, and then nothing but good choices after that in this case.