05.04.10
BB with As-Ks in a Cash Game
In a cash poker game getting big slick is a bit different than a casino tournament. In a poker tournament you never feel bad about pushing the pace with this hand. In fact, you probably would feel more confident playing it all-in preflop. There aren’t a lot of hands that have you crushed, and there are a lot of hands that you are dominating. In a Cash game though, it’s often too difficult to get all-in preflop, and if you do, you can be pretty sure that lesser aces are not in your opponent’s range. In this instance I played AK a little too slow for my own good. UTG limps. The button raises to .40. I call and the limper calls. Flop is K-J-6 rainbow. I love this flop. In fact I love it so much that I check, hoping to check raise. They both check behind. Turn is a 5d, making two diamonds on the board. I bet .70 the UTG player calls and the button shoves, I call. He had 55 and turned the set. In a cash game, I should be betting out at that flop for value, not planning to check raise a continuation bet like I would in a tournament. Giving free cards in a cash game is generally not a good idea.
