I've noticed a few posts by newer players concerning how to play AA. I decided to play every hand I was dealt AA this past week somewhat differently in hopes that maybe it could provide some insight in how to play pocket rockets in various situations with the intention of later posting them for you guys. I typically play 4 NL/PL tables tables at a time, so over the past couple days I have accumulated a few hands under different circumstances. I posted a few of the hands below.


***** Hand History for Game 727104277 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (PL) - Mon Jul 05 14:11:41 EDT 2004
Table Dances with Wolves (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 2: Nitack ( $25)
Seat 3: KubaRules ( $20.85)
Seat 4: Mindtrade ( $24)
Seat 5: allip ( $15)
Seat 6: SMGPA ( $25.20)
Seat 7: DNutsInYoEye ( $46.90)
Seat 8: rntstrcks28 ( $59)
Seat 9: nateydoowop ( $6.90)
Seat 10: Tooks ( $10.75)
allip posts small blind (0.25)
SMGPA posts big blind (0.50)
Nitack posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ As, Ad ]


Example 1: “Call then Kill” - First of all you'll notice this table is pot limit and I'm dealt AA UTG. The most I can bet at this point would be $1.75. If I bet this amount I would likely get 2-4 callers which I don't want. Ideally when I have AA I want a single caller or two at the most. Like Joe at Toasty mentioned, the value of wired aces goes down considerably with multiple callers.


DNutsInYoEye calls (0.50)


Instead I limp in. I'll often simply call UTG in NL games too if the table if being aggressive before the flop. The intention is to get someone to raise behind you and have a couple people call and then re-raise them. If I do happen to get action behind me I'll typically re-raise fairly high (3-4x the initial raise). This accomplishes a couple of things. If you raise too high initially, then often you'll end up just winning the blinds as you mentioned. When you re-raise you may still fold everyone out, but at least you will pick up a little more money from everyone that called in front of you. Secondly, many people feel the need to defend their raises when someone comes over the top. This allows you to be a little more aggressive with your betting as people will be more likely to call you.


rntstrcks28 folds.
nateydoowop raises (1.50) to 1.50


Sure enough someone raises behind me and another person calls.


Tooks folds.
Nitack folds.
KubaRules folds.
Mindtrade folds.
allip calls (1.25)
SMGPA folds.
DNutsInYoEye raises (4.50) to 5
Nitack: ouch


I then re-raise 3x their bet hoping to fold one of them out.


nateydoowop calls (3.50)
allip folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 3c, 5h, 2d ]
DNutsInYoEye bets (1.89)


I tried to leave the guy with $0.01 as a gesture of good will, but he wasn’t having any of it.


nateydoowop raises (1.90) to 1.90
nateydoowop is all-In.
DNutsInYoEye calls (0.01)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Qs ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Ts ]
Creating Main Pot with $15.50 with nateydoowop
** Summary **
Main Pot: $15.50 | | Rake: $0.80
Board: [ 3c 5h 2d Qs Ts ]
Meangrn balance $25, sits out
Nitack balance $24.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
KubaRules balance $20.85, didn't bet (folded)
Mindtrade balance $24, didn't bet (folded)
allip balance $13.50, lost $1.50 (folded)
SMGPA balance $24.70, lost $0.50 (folded)
DNutsInYoEye balance $55.50, bet $6.90, collected $15.50, net +$8.60 [ As Ad ] [ a
pair of aces -- As,Ad,Qs,Ts,5h ]
rntstrcks28 balance $59, didn't bet (folded)
nateydoowop balance $0, lost $6.90 [ Kc Jc ] [ high card king -- Kc,Qs,Jc,Ts,5h ]
Tooks balance $10.75, didn't bet (folded)


Example 2: “Lightning Doesn’t Strike Twice” - Well I got rockets again in early position so I try the same tactic to further reinforce my point for you guys. It was one of the first hands I got right when I sat down at this table so I figured what the hell. Well… it backfired. I didn’t have a read on the table yet so playing my hand this way probably wasn’t such a great idea. I would suggest playing it this way if you’re at an aggressive table (which after a few more hands I realized I wasn’t).

***** Hand History for Game 725452329 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (PL) - Sun Jul 04 20:32:28 EDT 2004
Table Get-Set-Go (Real Money) -- Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: Why_Oh_Why ( $31.90)
Seat 2: HMF469 ( $19.08)
Seat 3: jiffypaws ( $20.50)
Seat 4: rawhide101 ( $28.40)
Seat 5: DNutsInYoEye ( $25)
Seat 6: Anayalator ( $108.32)
Seat 7: tcplay ( $48.55)
Seat 8: gogor25 ( $26.85)
Seat 10: Mike_Mcdeee ( $33.05)
HMF469 posts small blind (0.25)
jiffypaws posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ As, Ac ]
rawhide101 folds.
DNutsInYoEye calls (0.50)
Anayalator folds.
tcplay calls (0.50)
gogor25 calls (0.50)
Mike_Mcdeee folds.
Why_Oh_Why folds.
HMF469 calls (0.25)
jiffypaws checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2c, Jc, 9d ]
HMF469 checks.
jiffypaws checks.
DNutsInYoEye bets (2.40)
tcplay folds.
gogor25 raises (9) to 9


gogor25 probably hit his set so I fold to him coming over the top. I only had $2.90 invested in the pot so why force it? In my experience many new players hold on to AA with a death grip. Like any other hand in hold ‘em, sometimes the best move you can make with AA is to fold them.


HMF469 folds.
jiffypaws folds.
DNutsInYoEye folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $13.55 | Rake: $0.35
Board: [ 2c Jc 9d ]
Why_Oh_Why balance $31.90, didn't bet (folded)
HMF469 balance $18.58, lost $0.50 (folded)
jiffypaws balance $20, lost $0.50 (folded)
rawhide101 balance $28.40, didn't bet (folded)
DNutsInYoEye balance $22.10, lost $2.90 (folded)
Anayalator balance $108.32, didn't bet (folded)
tcplay balance $48.05, lost $0.50 (folded)
gogor25 balance $30.90, bet $9.50, collected $13.55, net +$4.05
geepee balance $25, sits out
Mike_Mcdeee balance $33.05, didn't bet (folded)


Example 3: “Eyes Bigger Than their Stacks” - When there is action ahead of you coming too far over the top doesn’t always work. In this case a person bet 4x the BB and two other people called before it was my turn to act.


***** Hand History for Game 725492126 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Sun Jul 04 20:52:06 EDT 2004
Table Cheese Burger (Real Money) -- Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: dempsgc ( $31.15)
Seat 2: rekoppoker ( $84.05)
Seat 3: fixerman55 ( $23.40)
Seat 4: baoluo ( $26.15)
Seat 5: RobHoop ( $25)
Seat 6: DNutsInYoEye ( $24.60)
Seat 7: ShadyMcShade ( $24.50)
Seat 8: Okami10 ( $114.90)
Seat 9: runstop ( $32.10)
Seat 10: ladiesman623 ( $36.40)
fixerman55 posts small blind (0.25)
baoluo posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ Ah, Ad ]
DNutsInYoEye calls (0.50)
ShadyMcShade folds.
Okami10 folds.
runstop raises (2) to 2
ladiesman623 folds.
dempsgc folds.
rekoppoker calls (2)
fixerman55 calls (1.75)
baoluo folds.
DNutsInYoEye raises (7.50) to 8
runstop folds.
rekoppoker folds.
fixerman55 folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $14.50 | Rake: $0
dempsgc balance $31.15, didn't bet (folded)
rekoppoker balance $82.05, lost $2 (folded)
fixerman55 balance $21.40, lost $2 (folded)
baoluo balance $25.65, lost $0.50 (folded)
RobHoop balance $25, sits out
DNutsInYoEye balance $31.10, bet $8, collected $14.50, net +$6.50
ShadyMcShade balance $24.50, didn't bet (folded)
Okami10 balance $114.90, didn't bet (folded)
runstop balance $30.10, lost $2 (folded)
ladiesman623 balance $36.40, didn't bet (folded)


I probably was too aggressive with this, but I’d rather be too aggressive with AA pre-flop and take down a small pot than not be aggressive enough.


Example 4: “Thanks, Bambi will Appreciate the Tip” - Like I mentioned earlier... Many people feel the need to defend their raises. Use this to your advantage and often you’ll be able to come way over the top and still have them call you.

***** Hand History for Game 725122279 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (PL) - Sun Jul 04 17:58:01 EDT 2004
Table Fish - n - Chips (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 2: DNutsInYoEye ( $58.60)
Seat 3: SetSetter ( $28.20)
Seat 4: ChipChomper ( $23)
Seat 5: Robran2000 ( $20.75)
Seat 6: worm14 ( $38.75)
Seat 7: tiggr817 ( $22.50)
Seat 8: rakehell ( $18.75)
Seat 9: fanuc19921 ( $9.20)
Seat 10: rpeak11 ( $25.60)
rpeak11 posts small blind (0.25)
DNutsInYoEye posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ As, Ah ]
SetSetter folds.
ChipChomper folds.
Robran2000 folds.
worm14 calls (0.50)
tiggr817 raises (2.25) to 2.25
rakehell folds.
fanuc19921 calls (2.25)
rpeak11 folds.
DNutsInYoEye raises (9.25) to 9.75
worm14 folds.
tiggr817 calls (7.50)
fanuc19921 calls (6.95)
fanuc19921 is all-In.


As you can see I went way over the top and both people call. Have to love Party Poker.


Creating Main Pot with $26.95 with fanuc19921
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Th, 3s, Td ]


Ok maybe someone had pockets tens, but I’ll take my chances against someone flopping quads. I had already marked these two fools as fish so I was pretty confident with betting into the remaining person. With the pot already fairly large and remaining person already committing half their stack to it, I figure they will call if I put them all in.


DNutsInYoEye bets (28)
tiggr817 calls (12.75)
tiggr817 is all-In.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ts ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 8s ]
Creating Side Pot 1 with $25.30 with tiggr817
** Summary **
Main Pot: $26.95 | Side Pot 1: $25.30 | Side Pot 2: $15.25 | Rake: $2.70
Board: [ Th 3s Td Ts 8s ]
trrt8 balance $25, sits out
DNutsInYoEye balance $88.35, bet $37.75, collected $67.50, net +$29.75 [ As Ah ] [ a
full house, Tens full of aces -- As,Ah,Th,Td,Ts ]
SetSetter balance $28.20, didn't bet (folded)
ChipChomper balance $23, didn't bet (folded)
Robran2000 balance $20.75, didn't bet (folded)
worm14 balance $38.25, lost $0.50 (folded)
tiggr817 balance $0, lost $22.50 [ 4d 4s ] [ a full house, Tens full of fours --
Th,Td,Ts,4d,4s ]
rakehell balance $18.75, didn't bet (folded)
fanuc19921 balance $0, lost $9.20 [ 6s 7d ] [ three of a kind, tens -- Th,Td,Ts,8s,7d ]
rpeak11 balance $25.35, lost $0.25 (folded)


As you can see neither of them had anything to justify calling such a large pre-flop bet especially when I was representing a high pocket pair. Lucky me that I had these two individuals at my table to contribute to the NutsInYoEye strip club and alcohol fund (more popularly known as the titties and beer fund).


Example 5: “WOTB: You’re Not the Only One” - This is your generic winning only the blinds(WOTB) example. Not much going on, but no list would be complete without it.

***** Hand History for Game 724776116 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Sun Jul 04 15:15:41 EDT 2004
Table Desert Rose (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: felix07 ( $23.75)
Seat 2: BradNole83 ( $41.35)
Seat 3: Thermopyle ( $24)
Seat 4: Redman64 ( $24.15)
Seat 5: TJGM22 ( $52.03)
Seat 6: ymann ( $41.53)
Seat 7: psychobabble ( $24.75)
Seat 8: DNutsInYoEye ( $23.50)
Seat 9: conlow ( $21)
Seat 10: Coolfear ( $24.95)
psychobabble posts small blind (0.25)
DNutsInYoEye posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ Ah, Ad ]
conlow calls (0.50)
Coolfear folds.
felix07 folds.
BradNole83 folds.
Thermopyle folds.
TJGM22 folds.
ymann calls (0.50)
psychobabble folds.
DNutsInYoEye raises (1.50) to 2
conlow folds.
ymann folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $3.25 | Rake: $0
felix07 balance $23.75, didn't bet (folded)
BradNole83 balance $41.35, didn't bet (folded)
Thermopyle balance $24, didn't bet (folded)
Redman64 balance $24.15, sits out
TJGM22 balance $52.03, didn't bet (folded)
ymann balance $41.03, lost $0.50 (folded)
psychobabble balance $24.50, lost $0.25 (folded)
DNutsInYoEye balance $24.75, bet $2, collected $3.25, net +$1.25
conlow balance $20.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
Coolfear balance $24.95, didn't bet (folded)


Example 6: “Damn Right you Better Suspend my Chat Privileges : A Lesson in Tilt Management” – Rounding out my list is a good ol’ fashioned example of getting outdrawn. But wait…. There is more! If you act now you will also get a complimentary copy of Party Poker’s Policies and Procedures.


***** Hand History for Game 722997380 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Sat Jul 03 20:52:20 EDT 2004
Table Cash n Cash (Real Money) -- Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: DNutsInYoEye ( $27.50)
Seat 2: bluebucks ( $20.92)
Seat 3: LHCOUNTRY ( $33)
Seat 4: scorpion403 ( $27.53)
Seat 5: Stapher ( $23)
Seat 6: FaceNoName ( $13.77)
Seat 7: joe_hill ( $27.85)
Seat 8: cybexx33 ( $20)
Seat 9: suds4 ( $74.53)
Seat 10: aron80 ( $23.05)
bluebucks posts small blind (0.25)
LHCOUNTRY posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DNutsInYoEye [ As, Ah ]
scorpion403 folds.
Stapher raises (2) to 2
FaceNoName folds.
joe_hill folds.
cybexx33 calls (2)
suds4 folds.
DNutsInYoEye raises (7) to 7
bluebucks folds.
LHCOUNTRY folds.
Stapher calls (5)
cybexx33 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 6c, Th, Jc ]
Stapher checks.
DNutsInYoEye bets (15)
Stapher raises (16) to 16
Stapher is all-In.
DNutsInYoEye calls (1)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 5d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 4c ]
Creating Main Pot with $46.35 with Stapher
** Summary **
Main Pot: $46.35 | | Rake: $2.40
Board: [ 6c Th Jc 5d 4c ]
DNutsInYoEye balance $4.50, lost $23 [ As Ah ] [ a pair of aces -- As,Ah,Jc,Th,6c ]
bluebucks balance $20.67, lost $0.25 (folded)
LHCOUNTRY balance $32.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
scorpion403 balance $27.53, didn't bet (folded)
Stapher balance $46.35, bet $23, collected $46.35, net +$23.35 [ Qc Kc ] [ a flush,
king high -- Kc,Qc,Jc,6c,4c ]
FaceNoName balance $13.77, didn't bet (folded)
joe_hill balance $27.85, didn't bet (folded)
cybexx33 balance $18, lost $2 (folded)
suds4 balance $74.53, didn't bet (folded)
aron80 balance $23.05, sits out

The Aftermath…

Dealer: DNutsInYoEye, you will not be allowed to chat because you have used foul language. Contact our customer support.

… Unpleasant e-mail from me to PartyPoker…Response…

Dear Stephen,

I have looked into your account and noticed that you have used offensive language in the chat box. This is why your chat facility has been removed. The chat feature isavailable on the tables to provide a healthy environment with which players may talk to each other.

Hope you enjoy playing at our tables!

If you have any further questions or suggestions Stephen, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Care Department at any time. We are here 24/7 to assist you either via our live help feature or via email.

Thank you for choosing us as your online gaming site!

Have a great day!

Sincerely yours,

Chitrita Deb.
Customer Care Department



...More explicatives sent by me... Response...



Dear Stephen,

Thank you for contacting us.

This is with regards to your email; I would like to inform you that we would not be able to unblock your chat. However I see that its blocked only for one and you would be able to use your chat after 04-JUL-04 14:54:17 EST.

If you have any further questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Care Department at any time. We are here 24/7 to assist you via email.

Thank you for choosing us as your online gaming site!

Sincerely,
Savithakv.
Poker Customer Care Team.


...Another neighborly follow-up by yours truly... Final Response...



Dear Stephen,

Thank you for contacting our Customer Care team!

Stephen,with regards to your query, I would like to inform you that your option to chat has been blocked till 07-JUL-04 18:36:34. The system will automatically restore your chat facility after this period.

We request you to maintain decorum at tables. I appreciate your understanding in this regard.

Hope you enjoy playing at our tables!

If you have any further questions or suggestions Stephen, please do not hesitate tocontact our Customer Care Department at any time. We are here 24/7 to assist you either via our live help feature or via email.

Thank you for choosing us as your online gaming site!

Have a great day!

Sincerely yours,

Chitrita Deb.
Customer Care Department


Lesson Learned: Don’t talk shit to Jesus Freaks and old women. Ok, lessoned not learned. The junk talking shall re-commence July 7th... Beware if you plan on playing at we PartyPokerYou from this date forward... Muahahahahahahaha...