Texas Hold'em Hand Play-By-Play Example - Limping in with AA
This is a write-up suggesting NOT to limp in with Pocket Rockets! Sure, there may be reasons to limp into a pot
in a heads-up situation, or a tournament situation, but I really advise you guys not to limp in when playing
a standard 10-player ring game.
I had this particular discussion with one of my friends - if he had AA every hand, and I had 22 every hand,
and we did not know each other's hands, and he limped into every pot, I would take all his money just about every session.
That is because if I flop trips, he will be unable to laydown his hand, and I will take his entire chip stack.
If I do not flop trips, I'll fold to any bet, and he will end up winning only my $.50 blinds.
Now, sure, the occasion will arise where you both flop trips, and you'll lose your entire chip stack, but that
will happen only about 8 times out of the 100 times you'll hit trips. So, clearly, you'll be way ahead in terms
of money made.
So, on the flip side, do you really want to be destroyed by the player holding 22? If you raise your pocket rockets
pre-flop with a decent raise ($3.00-$5.00, or more!), you'll force the opponent with 22 to make a tough decision.
He'll either fold his hand (no risk to your pot), or possibly test you by re-raising (horrible play but I've seen it several times),
or he'll call your bet and probably get out if he hasn't hit trips.
Let's look at the proposed scenario above with
pre-flop raising. Let's assume both players have $25.00 at the table.
If my opponent is raising $3.00 or so pre-flop, I'm folding, so I'll NEVER take all his chips. AA beats 22
every time with no risk. Now if I play contradictory to my normal strategy and call
every raise, I may go broke before ever hitting trips on the flop. Not to mention, if I am not constantly
rebuying, I will have a diminished chip stack by the time I do get my trips, and now I will not be able to maximize
my gains. I now have no strategy with my 22's that will be profitable against AA.
That's why I think you should raise with AA in a 10-player ring game.
So, let's take a look at the below hand. This hand conveniently demonstrates my points during the discussion
with my friend:
***** Hand History for Game XXXX *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Sun Mar 21 15:10:29 EST 2004
Table american nights (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: Player1 ( $26.85)
Seat 2: Player2 ( $75.85)
Seat 3: Player3 ( $16.40)
Seat 4: Player4 ( $28.35)
Seat 5: Player5 ( $34)
Seat 6: Player6 ( $17.50)
Seat 7: Player7 ( $27.35)
Seat 8: Player8 ( $78.75)
Seat 9: Player9 ( $24.50)
Seat 10: FlopTurnRiver ( $24)
Player7 posts small blind (0.25)
Player8 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to FlopTurnRiver [ 2s, 2h ]
Player9 folds.
FlopTurnRiver calls (0.50)
Player1 calls (0.50)
Player2 folds.
Player3 calls (0.50)
Player4 calls (0.50)
Player5 calls (0.50)
Player6 folds.
Player7 calls (0.25)
Player8 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2d, Kh, 9h ]
Player7 checks.
Player8 checks.
FlopTurnRiver bets (1.50)
Player1 calls (1.50)
Player3 folds.
Player4 raises (3) to 3
Player5 folds.
Player7 folds.
Player8 folds.
FlopTurnRiver raises (3.50) to 5
Player1 folds.
Player4 calls (2)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Jd ]
FlopTurnRiver bets (7)
Player4 calls (7)
** Dealing River ** : [ 7c ]
FlopTurnRiver bets (11.50)
FlopTurnRiver is all-In.
Player4 calls (11.50)
Creating Main Pot with $49.40 with FlopTurnRiver
** Summary **
Main Pot: $49.40 | | Rake: $2.60
Board: [ 2d Kh 9h Jd 7c ]
Player1 balance $24.85, lost $2 (folded)
Player2 balance $75.85, didn't bet (folded)
Player3 balance $15.90, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player4 balance $4.35, lost $24 [ Ad As ] [ a pair of aces -- Ad,As,Kh,Jd,9h ]
Player5 balance $33.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player6 balance $17.50, didn't bet (folded)
Player7 balance $26.85, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player8 balance $78.25, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player9 balance $24.50, didn't bet (folded)
FlopTurnRiver balance $49.40, bet $24, collected $49.40, net +$25.40 [ 2s 2h ] [ three of a kind, twos -- Kh,Jd,2s,2h,2d ]
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