I know the trouble AQ brings...and yet I still play it. I also know that calling a raise and a re-reaise with AQ is bad too, but for some stupid reason I still did it anyway. Only 6 hands on villain, so I don't really have a read on him. Though, in my defense, I've seen button raise with hands like KTs and low pockets, so I thought it would be okay to call his reraise and see a flop. I figured I could get out if things didn't look good. Boy was I wrong.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

Button ($69.15)
SB ($22.82)
BB ($8.75)
UTG ($86.05)
UTG+1 ($50)
Hero ($50)
MP1 ($34.95)
Villain ($110.05)
MP3 ($59.5)
CO ($53.7)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25. Hero posts a blind of $0.5.
2 folds, Hero (poster) checks, 1 fold, Villain raises to $2, 2 folds, Button raises to $3.5, 2 folds, Hero calls $3, Villain calls $1.50.

Yeah, I know this a bad play, I was only concentrating on the button, rather than villain. I don't know, I guess when you're on a time limit logic can get a little warped. Chalk this mistake up to my newbiness.

Flop: ($11.25) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, Villain bets $3, Button folds, Hero raises to $13, Villain calls $10.

Why did I check raise? Honestly I don't know. I guess I thought it would be better than just calling. I was pretty sure villain had an ace, but for some reason I thought my Q kicker was good.

Turn: ($37.25) (2 players)
Hero calls $33.50 (All-In), Villain calls $33.50.

When the jack came up, I thought as a possibilty that villain might have AJ, but I ignored my instincts because I'm a stubborn idiot. I push all-in because it was a pot sized bet and because I didn't want to check call/fold. Villain quickly calls and I know I'm ****ed.

River: ($104.25) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $104.25

Results in white below:
Hero has Qs As (one pair, aces).
Villain has Ac Js (two pair, aces and jacks).
Outcome: Villain wins $104.25.


I know I played this badly, but I really do want to learn from my mistakes. Aside from not calling with AQ in the first place, how would you guys play the flop? The turn? (If in fact there was one for you)

Check the turn. The only thing your beating is AT or a badly played KK

The Check raise is good, and he is only drawing to three outs, which unfortunatly happens sometimes.

What is your read on this player? Barring the outcome from this hand, do you think he could 3 bet a worse hand than AQ? How about something as weak as KQc or two other clubs? How aggressive is he after the flop?

On the flop he could have KK, but this is most likely a Way Ahead/ Way Behind, and most of the time you'll be up against AK. My immediate advice would be to dump pre-flop. You're only hoping to hit a draw or a made hand here, too many times you're going to be out of position, in a tough decision, and he covers you.

On the turn you have to stick it in and pray its AJ or KK, you cannot give free cards to a hand you have crushed, like A9c, or KK/QQ.

Cliffs Notes: Dump it Pre-flop when 3-bet and OOP.

I disagree with so weak. After that Jack hit...you are beating close to nothing. When that card hit the turn...you need to be trying to get a cheap showdown.

I agree w/ Kenny.. He raised PF... He called your checkraise on the flop=he's got a big Ace... AA, you lose... AK, you lose... AQ, either push or lose if they're hearts... AJ, he's got 2pr... That's about as low as I'm willing to bet he played this hand... I think if he had QQ, he would've folded to the flop... JJ, you're dead... I think if he had KK, he would've bet closer to the pot on the flop, and probably folded to your raise...

Same message, you're not beating too many hands there. Try to think clearly, don't put in all you chips and then pray if you think you're beat. I don't think even Phil Ivey would have pulled off this Phil Ivey move.