i also wonder what ppl are waiting for when they dont want to play big pots with aces. sure, you might get outdrawn, but thats variance, not getting value for hands is what stops many players moving up the levels.
Once you understand the difference in approach that is required between mid-stake FR cash and shorter-handed cash games then you will no longer have to wonder.
Extracting value for winning hands is easy. Extracting value for winning hands whilst also minimising losses with 2nd best hands is a little harder.
i realise this, but to not like building a pot in any position with AA isnt what i would call extracting value. just b/c i have built a pot doesnt mean i dont slow down on flops or even fold to minimise losses if i am beat. this hand came up whilst i am writing this post
GAME #750275996: Texas Hold'em NL $10.00/$20.00 2007-12-07 17:46:06
Table Emmitsburg
Seat 1: bergsgard ($682.50 in chips) DEALER
Seat 3: Schism1 ($1,917.00 in chips)
Seat 5: FamousBoy ($2,315.50 in chips)
Seat 6: geenetic ($2,057.00 in chips)
Seat 8: boomber1 ($3,069.00 in chips)
Seat 10: Najammaq ($2,552.50 in chips)
Schism1: Post SB $10.00
FamousBoy: Post BB $20.00
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to geenetic [
]
Dealt to boomber1 [SA
]
Dealt to Najammaq [
]
geenetic: Raise $70.00
boomber1: Raise $160.00
Najammaq: Call $160.00
bergsgard: Fold
Schism1: Fold
FamousBoy: Fold
geenetic: Raise $460.00
boomber1: Call $370.00
Najammaq: Call $370.00
*** FLOP *** [
]
geenetic: Check
boomber1: Bet $720.00
Najammaq: Call $720.00
geenetic: Fold
*** TURN *** [
]
boomber1: Allin $1,819.00
Najammaq: Allin $1,302.50
*** RIVER *** [
]
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6,178.50 Rake $3.00
boomber1: wins $516.50
Najammaq: wins $5,662.00
now obv this isnt too hard a fold, and pf i nearly just flat called for set value (but boomer has done this type of raise b4 with less than AA so i decided to find out where i was pf). but i am still not afraid to build a pot and rely on my reads on my opponants and their betting patterns and use that information to make a decision post flop. my point being preflop u have the nuts, u need to get value from this.
secondly, yes there is a difference between 6 handed and fr. but PREFLOP OOP there is no difference in your aims when u have AA. you want a caller and u want a built pot (the amount you have to charge to get this may differ). if u have got this then u will win far more often that not. its far better stacking off to a set or a flopped 2pair when you have charge them more by building a pot.
i think in my original post i made the mistake of refering to the term 'playing big pots with aces', rather than the one have used here 'building big pots with aces' as the 1st term implies that i am going to play the pot out regardless of board or player info. the 2nd really has more emphasis on preflop play then post, however, it does follow that once you have built your pot preflop later decisions have more value associated with them
Author