How to play 2 overcards?

I had a question that recently came up awhile ago. I was dealt AQ in EP riased 3xBB, got about three callers. Flop was rags so I tried to rep it putting in a pot sized bet to take it right there.

Got 2 callers, I wasnt sure how to play it from there....luckily the turn was an A with no straight/flush draws, so I felt more comfortable continuing big bets. I eventually took down the pot on the river without a showdown, must of been some chasers.

However, I was unsure what to do with the overcards on the flop. I know it depends on many factors, but any advice would be helpful.

Thanks.

Take a shot at it, and if you don't take it down with a bet then check/fold the rest of the way.

you have to think 'what hand am i repping, and how would i play it if i did have it'

if the flop is 2 3 7 rainbow, there arent many hands you can rep. only possibility is 9s-As. so to play it youd bet hard on the flop in order to force overcards to fold.

if the flop is 2 suited, you can pretend to be chasing the flush. minbet the flop and when (if) the scare card hits, bet hard. you just have to sell your hand.

i dont consider bluffing just throwing so many chips in the pot that you push people off hands. you have to convince them theyre beat. this is for cash games anyway. tourneys, go ahead and play the maniac.

Originally Posted by BobbySalami

I had a question that recently came up awhile ago. I was dealt AQ in EP riased 3xBB, got about three callers. Flop was rags so I tried to rep it putting in a pot sized bet to take it right there.

Got 2 callers, I wasnt sure how to play it from there....luckily the turn was an A with no straight/flush draws, so I felt more comfortable continuing big bets. I eventually took down the pot on the river without a showdown, must of been some chasers.

However, I was unsure what to do with the overcards on the flop. I know it depends on many factors, but any advice would be helpful.

Thanks.

I would suggest it depends on your image and your opponents, and most importantly, the game.

Certainly, if I am the raiser, as in your case, and I miss the flop with AK or AQ etc but am first to act or it is checked to me, I will post a pot sized bet to try and take it there and then. If I am called, and I put my opponent(s) on a draw to a straight or a flush which doesn't come good on the turn, I would go ahead and bet again. If I think my opponent has a piece of the flop, I will probably check or perhaps make a stop-bet. I think your play was correct, but this strategy is really only for tournaments.

In a limit cash game, especially low limit, many players will see the turn card as a matter of routine, as they can do so cheaply. If they do not raise your bet on the flop but merely call, which is most likely, they could be holding anything or nothing! So if you bet in this situation hoping to take the pot, you're probably not going to be successful very often. You will have to follow this up with a bet on the turn to continue with your aggression, and even a fish with nothing will probably fold at this stage. On the other hand, if the fish has any piece of the flop, even third or fourth pair, he'll probably call, which is not what you want, and will probably end up costing you too much because of your bets.

Aggressive play does not really work well in limit games unless your opponents are timid or really respect cards. If your AQ misses the flop, checking probably keeps your losses to a minimum. I find that aggression is most likely to work against one opponent or when you represent something obvious, e.g. a raise pre flop with KQ suited and the flop comes A rag rag, a bet might induce folds by representing the A. Of course, the danger is it might run into the A! If players are still calling on the turn with an A on the flop, beware!