POKER PLAYERS: Did I do this right?

Question

Button ($5.40)

SB ($24.30)

BB ($28.10)

Hero ($33.25)

UTG+1 ($19.90)

MP1 ($14.40)

MP2 ($25)

MP3 ($68.40)

CO ($21.80)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K, K.

Hero raises to $0.85, 3 folds, MP3 raises to $3, 4 folds, Hero calls $2.15.

Flop: ($6.35) 8, 5, 8 (2 players)

Hero checks, MP3 bets $6.35, Hero raises to $30.25 (All-In), MP3 folds.

Final Pot: $19.05

I'm fairly sure I believed him when he asked if his AA was no good.

Answer 1

he lied.  He might have had AK.  He would not have folded AA there, unless he was a complete idiot.  And judging by his stack, he isn't an idiot.  I would not believe him.  either he had AK or a small pair and was just trying to bully you.

Answer 2

Yeah, you played it right. You don't need to push all in pre-flop when he re-raises. Most top players do not get all their money in before the flop in ring games, even if they have aces. With your kings, if he had anything but AA he'd have folded, and you wouldn't have gotten as much value for your kings. Plus it allows you to see if an ace spikes on the flop and ruins your hand.

A check raise is a good play if you know he's an aggressive player, and judging by his stack size, I'd imagine he is. Pushing all in was just fine. With a larger stack, a raise to $18-19 is ideal, but in your case pushing all in is just the same. An $18 bet with a $20 stack makes you pot committed anyway, so even if you had only raised it to $18, if he had raised to put you all in you'd pretty much have to call anyway. If he calls you're pushing on the turn and he's insta-calling.

And he was definitely lying about having pockets aces. The only hands you might raise with under the gun that could beat him are pocket 8s or 5s, and there's no way a decent player would muck aces in that situation. Like others have said, he's probably got AK or a smaller pair and was trying to BS you into showing your cards or giving up some info. Some players would be on a stone cold bluff or straight draw when making the exact same play you may, so he probably wanted to see if that's what you were doing or if you actually had a hand.

Answer 3

MP3 should have called that.  He might have had A A, but that sure is the risk you take for only another $20 after you have $10 in it already.

Answer 4

First off, you never mentioned the blinds.  If they were 0.05/0.10, your bet was way too big.  For 0.10/0.20 it may have been more appropriate.

Next, I don't understand your call pre-flop.  Why just call?  If you think you're beat (highly unlikely), fold, if not, why give your opponent a chance to catch on the flop?

Finally, I don't get your play on the flop.  Why push all in?  You're only gonna get called if you're beat.  On the flop I would understand a smooth call, or a more marginal raise.  If you push, you're forcing your opponent to give up his bluff.

And yes, I'm 99.9% sure your opponent did NOT have the rockets.  What, did he think you hit quads?  Please.

Overall, I think you could give gotten a lot more value for your hand.

Answer 5

He probably had a high hand that missed. He definitely didn't hit a set of 8s or he surely would have called.

You probably could have got more money out of him if you got tot he turn and then went all-in, but at that point you were risking losing more when you had the best hand.