What would you do? Opinions please everyone

[ju5tin]

1st thing to look at here is the decision to limp.

personally, if Im in this situation, its an easy pass. I would have to have a reason to play from this position with the type of players behind you that you had. "mixing it up" just isnt a good enough reason here. Even if im in top gear, ruling the table, I would prefer a hand like suited connectors or small pair. Some hand that I could flop a less than obvious hand and get paid well, rather than A8 that could flop a second best hand.

 So, you limp, but what are ypu going to do now? Are you going to pass to almost all preflop raises?  Most flops your simply going to check and pass to a bet? whats this play going to prove to the others at the table? that you can limp in early position with less than premium hands? Perhaps, that they can outplay you when u are in early position? The point is that this play could affect your table image, so its important to know what image that your trying to preserve or change.

After the flop you bet because its a good flop and you and you just want to end it here and pick up the 5k profit in the pot and after all, you are representing aces here. I think this is probably the right play now you are here.

now lionel raises, what has he got? i think its a more difficult read now you have limped, whats more, your limp may have deterred him from raising some hands he would normally raise with and given value to some hands he wouldnt normally limp with. having played with lionel it just is not impossible that he has K9 K2 29, 99 22. he would normally raise 99, but what if your limp put him off raising or he was mixing up his play? its also not impossible that he has q10 kx or even 9x, but the point is, the way the hand has been played, you just cant be sure here?

Seeing as you cant be sure of lionels holding, you cant be sure he can give it up. Remember too, that he has raised you on the flop, quite a strong play if he put u on a strong holding preflop, so personally i pass here.

Your raise, however, takes down the pot. This is a superb result. you have made a tidy profit and the other players at the table claim they all knew you had limped with aces. Your image is now impeccable.Your re-steals from now on make you a massive, risk free, profit and  now, everyone thinks twice before stealing from you and every hand you play will be viewed as aces.

Some players egos get the better of them here and they show the bluff, what a waste that would be huh?

in conclusion, i dont play A8 here, instead i wait for easier hands to play and less risky spots.

If i had played it, i would bet the flop and pass for the reraise. Lionel's flop raise is a fairly strong play and i couldnt be that sure that he would lay down here.

[not gus]

Thank you Justin for that valuable and well argued analysis. you know I respect your play and your opinion and I agree with everything you say. At the time, i felt sure he would lay it down and he did. If he did have say, 22 or K9, both very possible, personally I think he flat calls rather than raises. The raise says good, but not massive, hand to me coming from Lionel and I was pretty sure I could make him believe aces, and if I was wrong, well I could still have made my flush. However, having said all that, most of the times I had hands like this in early position I did fold them This was a one-off that went my way, as so much did. Thanks again for taking the time to post.