Relatively new to table. V seems like a capable reg. Not sure he has any major read on me at this point.

$500 eff.

V (LJ) opens $15 (standard opens seemed to range from $15-25)

H (B) calls with A♦️7♦️

I contemplated a light 3-bet but decided to reserve that for A suited wheel hands

Both blinds call

Flop ($60) A♠️A♣️6♠️

V bets $30. H calls. Blinds fold.

Turn ($120) A♠️A♣️6♠️5♣️

V bets $75. H calls.

River ($270) A♠️A♣️6♠️5♣️4♣️

V bets $150. H?

Anyone play earlier streets differently?

I pretty much play it the same and fold river.

Problem is that there aren't really any Aces we beat. You've got to call down with something, and that something would usually include an Ace, but on the assumption that LJ never does this with worse value then you have a bluffcatcher. I'd happily call with, say, A9 as there are some worse Aces which you'd beat. A7 is almost a pure bluffcatcher though. It can't be a big mistake either way.

Preflop, flop and turn all seem reasonable to just call. I see no reason to raise flop or turn.

Preflop and flop seem very standard, wouldn't change a thing. However on the turn this hand gets quite interesting, we definitely have some options. Against certain opponents I will minclick the turn with plans of checking back most rivers we don't improve on. We get more value from draws and we limit the damage against stronger Ax. It's also very unlikely you will face a 3bet bluff when you click the turn so you can easily fold profitably facing more action.

As played on the river I would just fold facing this size and move onto next hand. We can call AQo AJo esp combos that are blocking clubs. We have enough strong hands where this A7s is actually not very high up in range. If you're looking for some bluff raises this hand actually might be a decent candidate, but only do this if you know your opponent is capable folding strong Ax otherwise no point in trying.

PRE - With no reads on V, just flatting pre seems pretty standard. With reads, fold to nits, 3B over the aggros, and just call everyone else.

FLOP - With two spades on board, I can see possibly/occasionally raise-folding for value, and seeing what v does on turn if he just calls. But usually, I think flat calling here is pretty standard.

TURN - Two flush draws draws on board, and LJ could have some straight draws in his range. If we just flat, it's unlikely V will continue to barrel the river with a worse hand. If we didn't raise the flop, I think we should raise-fold here. It's dicey though, when we didn't raise pre, which we may have done with A5s. I think we'd mostly just be repping Ax with weak/middling kickers.

RIVER - as played, we beat none of V's value range, unless he's insane enough to v-bet A3/A2. If we raised flop or turn, V's probably not betting river with a worse hand, and maybe not even some of his better hands.

With hands like this on flops like this, I prefer raising flop, when the pot is smaller, and we can get to the river cheaply if V calls and the turn goes check-check. Of course that opens the door for V to bomb river with all his better aces. Pray to the poker gods we boat up just before V bombs it.

EDIT - just read BTC's response. Min-clicking turn never occurred to me, but that does seem better than what I would have done, which may be why no one is asking me for poker coaching lessons.

I would call down. River bet and sizing represent a small raise when the backdoor flush comes in. He could be bluffing with the missed frontdoor flush draw.

Thanks guys.

I folded river.

I figure most capable regs don't cbet multiway and then barrel off without Ax and I'm beating very few. They also don't expect most unknowns to fold a weak A. His river sizing looked valuey.

I didn't think raising flop or turn accomplished much.

I called turn not simply to draw to a 7 but because I thought he may slow down after 2 barrels were called.

I wondered if anyone actually folds turn knowing they are folding to a river bet.

After I mucked he said "Spade draw?". I said no. He said "you folded an ace??" I didn't confirm or deny but he seemed genuinely disappointed/impressed.

Don’t think saying “no” when asked about the spade draw is a smart move. You have advertised for players to 3 barrel you and you will now need to call down lighter leading to more variance.

Agree. It was a vacation poker room and I wasn't going to be playing there anymore.

I do that too on vacation

Don't forget you have chop outs too; you aren't just drawing to a 7. So calling turn is better than you think.

Really hate flatting pre vs lj

Open it up and include this for sure

A7s is a default flat on the BTN vs LJ open in the vast majority of the ranges I have seen.

(GTO Wizard seems to like a close to even mix of 3-betting, flatting, and folding.)