This is standard AJ right?

[Irisheyes]

Ok sorry I'm posting so many hands, I'm in a $650 downswing at the moment and my confidence is starting to flutter a bit.

Actually make that $750 downswing as of 2 mins ago.

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Hand #166713782 at table: Table TH 1278
Started: Mon Jan 02 17:16:48 2006

Tommy83 is at seat 1 with 121.05
slight is at seat 2 with 22.60
RACZEJ_MAM is at seat 3 with 108.40
fortuna50 is at seat 4 with 126.30
All-in4Fun is at seat 5 with 95.00
Cadernera is at seat 6 with 72.20
lipst is at seat 7 with 39.35
iminaki is at seat 8 with 91.64
AKQJTs is at seat 9 with 99.00
juwie is at seat 10 with 19.20

iminaki posts the large blind 1.00
lipst posts the small blind 0.50

All-in4Fun: As, Jc

Pre-flop:

AKQJTs: Fold
juwie: Call 1.00
Tommy83: Fold
slight: Fold
RACZEJ_MAM: Fold
fortuna50: Fold
All-in4Fun: Raise 4.00
Cadernera: Fold
lipst: Fold
iminaki: Call 4.00
juwie: Call 4.00

Pot: $12
Flop (Board: Ks, Ad, 3c):

iminaki: Check
juwie: Check
All-in4Fun: Bet 6.00
iminaki: Call 6.00
juwie: Call 6.00

Pot: $30
Turn (Board: Ks, Ad, 3c, Ah):

iminaki: Check
juwie: Check
All-in4Fun: Bet 12.00
iminaki: Call 12.00
juwie: All in

Pot: ~$60
River (Board: Ks, Ad, 3c, Ah, 2s):

iminaki: Check
All-in4Fun: Bet 20.00
iminaki: Raise 40.00
All-in4Fun: Call 40.00


Also this is a textbook results orientated examle of why I dont usually raise AJ preflop.

[bearcats05]

I don't usually raise AJ preflop either. I think the post flop play is ok here... did iminaki have 33 or AQ?

[Fnord]

I generally only isolate fish with it.

The problem with your hand here is that your strength is in plain sight. What do you know about your opponent? Any reason to think you're good if lots of money gets into the pot?

[bdawg56kg]

I think raising preflop with AJ is fine, especially since you have position. But I think calling raises preflop with AJ can be a leak, and is something I rarely do at a full table. You just have to know when to let it go if you hit your top pair. I think your recent downswing probably has you doubting yourself.

For this hand, I would bet more on the flop, around $8, but after they both call your flop bet, I would check behind on the turn. There are no real draws out, so no need to worry about free cards here. Also, keep in mind that while the turn ace looks golden, it really doesn't "improve" your hand. With the exception on K3, you are still behind to any hand you were behind to on the flop, and still ahead of any hand you were beating on the flop.

Checking behind on the turn IMO is a good choice here because you have position on both of them, so you can see how they act on the river and evaluate. If they both check to me, I would pot it. If iminaki comes out with a huge bet, I would just call or maybe even find a fold if he really tight. But checking the turn also makes your hand very well disguised and your opponents might either play back at you or pay you off with weaker holdings like a king.

[Irisheyes]

I don't really no anything about him. A product of my multi-tableing nature and something I'm going to be fixing soon. He's not one of the resident TAGGs which probably means he's loose passive. Only reason I feel ahead is because a lot of these guys like to play low aces. I kinda figure I'm beat when he raises the river but I figure I have to call.

Anybody consider checking this river. I think my river play sucks in general.

[Fnord]

Yeah, I like a turn check too. Great spot to induce a river bluff, maybe try to catch an out or keep the pot under control.

Generally, I'm out to win small to medium pots with a hand like that.

[Lukie]

I don't really no anything about him. A product of my multi-tableing nature and something I'm going to be fixing soon. He's not one of the resident TAGGs which probably means he's loose passive. Only reason I feel ahead is because a lot of these guys like to play low aces. I kinda figure I'm beat when he raises the river but I figure I have to call.

Anybody consider checking this river. I think my river play sucks in general.

I'd cut down on the number of tables you were playing, x out of everything but your poker tables, and get rid of any distractions where you play from and concentrate more on your opponents. I think people over-use reads on FTR (for example, people tend to lable an opponent as something, and base any and all decisions based on that adjective), but you need to have a certain feel for your opponents at your table. The ones around you are the most important. At a full table, I watch the 2 players to my left and 1 to my right the closest when I first sit down. Poker Tracker or a similar tool can (and does) help, but you have to be able to make quick decisions based on what you are currently seeing at the table. Unless you just first down, I think it is somewhat inexcusable to have absolutely no idea about a given opponent.

[Irisheyes]

But I think calling raises preflop with AJ can be a leak, and is something I rarely do at a full table.

Ditto

I think your recent downswing probably has you doubting yourself.

Not really doubting myself, It just seems like a load of difficult decision hands have come along at once and I'm realising how much room there is for improvement.

For this hand, I would bet more on the flop, around $8,

I considered this, I figured that its a pretty draw free flop and my bet doesn't give 6 outers odds. Also any hand ahead of me now is probably staying ahead.

Also, keep in mind that while the turn ace looks golden, it really doesn't "improve" your hand. With the exception on K3, you are still behind to any hand you were behind to on the flop, and still ahead of any hand you were beating on the flop.

This is good. I deffinitly should have been thinking like this. I kinda got a "Oh cool top trips" buzz, which is stupid and I should be over this but I think running bad magnified it.

Checking behind on the turn IMO is a good choice here because you have position on both of them, so you can see how they act on the river and evaluate. If they both check to me, I would pot it. If iminaki comes out with a huge bet, I would just call or maybe even find a fold if he really tight.

I deffinitly fold this to a river pot sized bet. Thats a really basic set pattern around these tables.

But checking the turn also makes your hand very well disguised and your opponents might either play back at you or pay you off with weaker holdings like a king.

True.

Thanks, good response.

[Irisheyes]

I'd cut down on the number of tables you were playing, x out of everything but your poker tables, and get rid of any distractions where you play from and concentrate more on your opponents.

Something I feel I really need to start doing. And will be doing soon.

I think people over-use reads on FTR (for example, people tend to lable an opponent as something, and base any and all decisions based on that adjective),

Me too. I also think half the time they don't even understand the implications of their read and how it affects their hands. I'm guilty here for one.

but you need to have a certain feel for your opponents at your table.

This is dawning on me since I moved to 100nl.

The ones around you are the most important. At a full table, I watch the 2 players to my left and 1 to my right the closest when I first sit down.

True. Harrington thought me this. I do so in MTTs all the time, I just lack the concentration to do it in cash games at the moment.

Poker Tracker or a similar tool can (and does) help,

Doesn't work where I play.

Unless you just first down, I think it is somewhat inexcusable to have absolutely no idea about a given opponent.

I agree.

Thanks all.

[Miffed22001]

being outkicked here is the bitch.
I see nothing wrong with the preflop or flop. I'd check the turn in hope of a check raise or inducing some action on the river. Unless juwie limped AK/kk/33 from ep i have no reason to believe that i can get my chips in on this river with the best of it. If somone filled up with Ax then that sukx

[Irisheyes]

being outkicked here is the bitch.
I see nothing wrong with the preflop or flop. I'd check the turn in hope of a check raise or inducing some action on the river. Unless juwie limped AK/kk/33 from ep i have no reason to believe that i can get my chips in on this river with the best of it. If somone filled up with Ax then that sukx

can't?

[BankItDrew]

The only hand that might check riase the river is someone with a full house or AQ AT LEAST!

I also don't raise preflop with AJ. I don't see why someone with a lower kicker would call unless looking for a straight or two pair. I usually limp AJ myself and hope for a two pair or better. Usually AQ calls an AJ preflop if held.