Online Poker Forum - When should I throw away my kings?

waynz · Pair Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 21

This is a general question.

I have KK middle to late position.

I raise 3x

Everyone folds except the BB.

An ace hits the flop and it is checked to me.

I bet say 1/3 to 1/2 the pot.

The BB makes a minimum raise?

Is it time to throw away my kings? Or should I call and see what he does on the turn?

Say I call and he puts in a moderate bet at the turn - 1/2 pot. What now?

My read on him: Not a great player in a low stakes sitngo.

nolan6 · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

Check flop most times, if he doesnt have an ace he will fold- so your winning anyway so betting isnt needed unless there are draws out and even then check and re-evaluate turn, and if he does have an ace he will call- therefore your building a pot for him to win.

waynz · Pair Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 21

So I check the flop and then how do I attack the turn if he:

1. Checks

2. Bets

nolan6 · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

if he checks you have to decide can he have a hand that could call a raise that isnt as good as your KK, eg some type of draw or a lower pair. If the board has no draws at all you could check it back again to control the size of the pot however after 2 checks from him you can normally presume your kings are best and bet.

if he bets on the turn it is not necaserily a bad thing as he could be bluffing and thinking your weak as you checked the flop-so you can call. If he bets big again on the river however its more likely he was traping you on the flop and is now betting his ace fore value. This is also depedant on the turn and river cards though, do they complete a flush or a straight? if so, you have to decide wether your openent would play a draw in this way.

MrIncredibleRP · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:50 am Post subject:

Personally i would check it down call weak raises but not come over the top if he comes in with a strong raise and called you pore flop when u raised its likely he may have hit top pair. Its a hard thing to do but sometimes u just gotta lay down KK Sad

francois8 · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject:

BTW, weak players hate folding any hand with an ace preflop.

Based on your read, no reason to bet the flop. If he bets the turn, you can call behind and see what he does on the river. If he checks the river, there's no value in betting so go ahead and check behind unless you think he's good enough to lay down ace-rag.

A Blind Thief · High Card Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 6

One thing to keep in mind is that most weak players also do not know how to slow play. Think why would they check, hit an A, middle pair, bottom pr. Maybe he's checking because he's hit, but wants to know where he stands. Remember, he also could check because he missed. I think that the best play here is to just check behind him on the river. Reason is because if he missed the flop then he could get a pair on the turn and think that you are weak then bet out. You'll have to have a good read, but one thing is for sure - DON'T RERAISE!!! If he checks the turn then you'll have to assume that he has just missed. If you decide to bet bet high about 3/4 the pot. Even if he does have the ace then you know if he calls you you're probably beat, then muck on the river with a bet against you. If you make that bet and he has a weak ace then you set yourself up in the future when you have a premium ace to take that 3/4 pot back and a lot more. I always smile then cringe when I get KK or AA. It's a hard hand to get away from, but don't throw it away until the turn. Good luck, or Good skill!

itsldog · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

On the flop if it was checked to me I would bet. You raised pre flop and he knows there is a good chance you have an Ace. With that in mind it would be very unlikely he would try to buy this or bluff. So with that being said your bet can just be another X3bb bet to see where he stands. I definitely disagree with checking back though. If you check you have no information. If you do check, hes thinking you don't have an ace. So if the next card is a J, and he has QJ he is thinking his J is good. Now when he bets you have no idea where he stands and this becomes an even more awkward position.

If he calls I would put him on a weak ace or some kind of crappy draw. Either way after that I would check the turn and see how he acts.

If he re raises its an easy fold for me, even if its a min. In the least I would put him on A rag.

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