Good fold? Bad fold? Aces are killin me lately

[littletrogdor]

Preflop: I have AA on a $25 NL table

Pot is raised to .50, I call.

Looking at it after the fact I'm not sure re-raising would have made any difference in the outcome.

Flop: (board: 6c As 2s)

Bet of $1.35 is made to me, I raise to $5.40.

I raised here to push out a possible flush draw, wasn't really expecting a call.

Turn (board: 6c As 2s 4s):

We both check.

River (board: 6c As 2s 4s Qs):

He bets $4, and I fold after a long while.

Most of the time in hands like this I've found that the spade is out there, so I've learned to simply cut my losses. Is there anything I could have done differently here to figure out what he has? I could have bet on the turn, but a pot sized bet would be a big bet.

What would you all have done here?

He opted to show, I'll post later on what he had.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

1) I wouldn't advise smooth calling a raise when you have AA if the bet is only 2XBB! You're saying "Hey guys, I have aces, but why don't you come along with me to the flop for a cheap price and outdraw me."

2) At this level, not many people bet their draws. They simply check and call. Not knowing anything about your opponent I would assume he has a pair of aces or possibly two pair (A's and 6's or A's and 2's). At this point I wouldn't be concerned with the flush.

3) I'd bet the turn strong despite a possible flush. I don't think he has it, but if so, I reload after the hand because I want to be at a table where people pay so much to draw. I also wouldn't be worried about the straight because the only straight he could be drawing to is a gut shot. If he was willing to pay that price to catch a gut shot then I'll pay him off. I still put him on a pair of aces which means that he could not have the flush at this point.

4) Any spade on the river beats me, but I'd still call a $4 bet (~1/3 pot) with a set of aces. It's the price I'd pay for checking the turn.

The main issue I have is with how weak you played the hand with the exception of the flop where you played it nicely. You basically assumed you were beat on the turn. He already told you that you're ahead though! He repped at least a pair of aces on the flop which means he can't have the flush on the turn. On the river he very well may have the flush. Personally I wouldn't have folded to a 1/3 pot bet at this point, but I can understand the argument for mucking it.


Final Prediction: He has a pair of aces with a mediocre kicker, but that kicker ended up giving him the flush.

[a500lbgorilla]

Pot is raised to .50, I call.

You've already missplayed the hand. Don't let prissy min bets keep you from making it 4-5BBs.

Flop play was very good. Turn play is a difficult spot. It comes to reads. Would your opponent call such a huge bet on a flush draw? From the flop his hand smells like A strong-ish ace. AJ, A10? I think you can invest another 5 here to see whatsup, that or just give up the hand to the flush. Read dependent.

River, he could have easily had a spade kicker. Tough laydown.

-'rilla

[littletrogdor]

He flipped over Ah 7h.

Which doesn't really make any sense to me. I don't mind getting bluffed out of a pot, thats part of the game. But why call a big reraise with garbage that you must know is beat? I guess hes just a maniac.

DaNutsInYoEye, your right about the turn situation, that got past me. If I read him holding an ace, he couldn't have the flush! Damn... well at least I'll know what to consider next time.

Your both right about my preflop call, I should have re-raised him. Recently I haven't had any callers with AA when I come out firing 3x-4x BB, so I suppose that has been affecting my play a bit. I don't think a reraise would have driven him out though.

Learn something new every day.

[|~|ypermegachi]

another example why never to slowplay aces preflop.