Hero just sat down about 30 min ago. Playing super tight pre while trying to get a feel for the table and work on a few player reads. And I mean super tight. Haven't limped once and only flatted EP/MP opens to 7-13 from LP 3 times with the higher end of my LP range KJ,KQ & JT. Whiffed all 3 flops and folded to EP c-bets and calls in front of me. Stack ~265

Villain is also new to the table. Just sat down maybe 3-4 hands ago. Seems kinda loose/passive pre and post so far. Limped then called a raise couple times and called c-bets on draw-y flops and gave up turn. Stack ~200

Hero is dealt AsAh UTG +1 and opens to 13. Amazingly table folds around to villain in SB who flats and BB folds. Villain announces "I check dark" as dealer is peeling the burn and flop.

Hero c-bets 25 as dealer is still peeling and goes to lay out the flop.

Flop J T 4 rainbow. Villain thinks for a second or two and calls. Again with the "I check dark" as dealer is peeling the burn and turn cards. Hero bets 65 before the turn card hits the board.

Turn Q of the final suit. Villain thinks again for maybe 5 seconds and calls. No verbal dark check this time.

River Ten. Villain shoves ~106-116

Hero ?

As played, I think you have to call river. Pot is over $200 so your getting around 2-1 on your money and your probably winning here just enough that calling is right. I would expect to lose more then half the time.

The way you played this makes it harder on yourself. The blind flop play means neither of you have any real information on hand strength going to turn. The blind turn play means you have built a big pot before seeing that turn card is terrible for your hand. The end result is that you have very little information on river and are stuck going on the reasonably good pot odds with a moderate strength hand for the situation.

One note, the check dark is somewhat standard as he is likely checking any flop anyway. The dark bet? I think it telegraphs our hand. Don't do this. Wait til flop comes, then cbet.

As played, the spot is meh. Without any read that he can do this light, I'm leaning toward giving him credit for a ten/straight. But it's also possible that he has a hand like top two and doesn't realize he just got counterfeited. I call, ready to reload if necessary.

+1 for not betting dark. Why give him the extra info that we have a premium hand?

I also like a turn check, and keeping pot smallish vs an unknown. Maybe its me, but I'm fine with 2 streets if value with an unimproved pair. A turn check means we dont have to play for stacks otr.

As played, I think u have to call, but expect to lose half of the time.

Don't bet dark. If I'm sitting with an uber nit (you) and he does this I am going to assume he has KK+.

Was it fun to bet pot dark after he checked dark? Was it fun again OTT? I bet it was pretty fun.....:-)

AP I really don't know. You need about 35% equity against his range to call and I think that's about what you have.

Ya I think this board is terrible for AA by the turn... But you didn't know that until after you bet. Part of the reason you shouldn't dark bet... The flop dark bet isn't as bad but it is still not good. By checking you can snap off any bets he makes on the river. If he checks I like a bet for value and a fold to a check raise which would confirm you are beat. Save the dark betting for home games.

This is not a good flop for AA, turn, or river. J10 boards hit so many ranges...I'm not comfortable playing for stacks. I like a 1/2 pot bet on the flop and turn...would rather exercise some pot control in this type of hand.

As played, villain was labeled as loose passive. If true then why would he be betting river...hard to fold but better judgment says that you're behind if read is true. If he has AQ, I think his bet would be smaller or he'd check to call you down. Good chance he shows up with something like K10 suited....

Appreciate the feedback guys. Agreed this is a pretty ugly board for AA, and I def mis-played it a bit. Hence why I posted the hand. I'll leave the blind bets to the fishes from now on. Think I still lead the flop at least half pot. From there I play it differently next time. I would check the turn back keeping the pot a little smaller. Then when the T hits the river the pot isn't big enough for him to ship without over betting the pot. Depending on his value bet sizing I can prob get away from paying off the river.

Spoiler : I called given the way I bloated the pot and getting about 2:1 on the call. Thinking I'm prob winning about half the time when he tables hands like top 2, or KJ,AJ,AQ and reloading the other half. Villain tabled QT and I pulled 12 greens out of my pocket.

Rest of the session went well, felt like I played pretty damn well for being fairly card dead. Had pretty solid reads on most of the table and rounded just before my buddy was ready to call it a day. I'll be back again next week.

despite getting 2-1 on your money, you're never good here. what is a passive player who checked twice in the dark but now suddenly shoves have that you beat?

NH, WP, now fold.