This is my first post ever on this site so I apologize if my format is not up to standards.

The scene: 1-2 NL live. 8 seated, the majority of which are fishy recreational players who limp almost every pot.

Starting Stack sizes: me-$100
villain-$100

Action:
3 callers
me (middle position): AJ spades-->bet $10
Villian (Hijack) : calls
all other players fold

Pot=$26

Flop: A55 rainbow

Me: Bet $12
Villian: min raise to $24
Me: Call

pot=$82

Turn: offsuit 10

Me: check
villian: Jams putting me all in for about $66



Thoughts?
ps. absolutly no info on player.

With no other reads, you can just fold this to an unknown villain's min-raise on the flop.

They typically don't do this with an ace worse than AJ.

In this spot most opponents put hero on AQ+ and don't give you credit for being able to fold it on this board.

Raise more pre. With three limpers, I'd have made it 18 or so.

AP bet the flop larger. Not much is calling 12 but not 15.

Decide whether you're committed on the flop when you get x/r. If you're going with your hand, you can either jam yourself or let V jam for you.

Against an unknown, I'd probably lay this down OTF. It's very rare for LLSNL V's to x/r bluff and there aren't any draws for a semi-bluff.

would you say that I am not getting proper odds to call this? It's about 2 to one by my math which means I need to be good roughly a third of the time. Is unknown villian bluffing much less than a third of the time?

Yes, it is very unusual for an unknown villain to check/raise a cbet on an ace-high flop with no obvious draws without AQ+. With weaker top pair hands they would typically just call.

Our pot odds are 66 / (66 + 66 + 82) = 31%

Unless, we have specific info suggesting he is playing crazy our equity looks like this:

ProPokerTools Hold'em Simulation

968 trials (Exhaustive)

board: A55T

Hand	Pot equity	Wins	Ties
AsJs	9.97%	56	81
AK,AQ,Ah5c,Ac5c,6c5c,6h5h,5h5c,5c4c,5h4h	90.03%	831	81

If our equity is lower than our pot odds we should fold.

While its of course theoretically possible he could be making the play with a weaker ace or complete air, in practice that would not be the kind of play we witness very often.

If we have a specific reason to believe villain is choosing this very odd spot to bluff then of course our equity in the hand goes up. How much depends on how crazy we think he's playing.

I think you're up against AK here or a random 5. AK is often not reraised in 1/2. I agree with making it 15 pre. With 50 BB and top pair it is a tougher decision though.

you are right. it was ak. I guess I really have to start giving credit where it is due.

Man you are on top of your game! Thanks for the thorough reply. I could learn alot from you. Are there any books or training sites you would reccomend to get a better sense of ranges and equity?

I would start out by reading 'Harrington on Modern Tournament Poker' and then ease yourself into the game by playing online $5 or $10 Sit-and-Gos.

That will be a good way to lose money slowly while you learn the fundementals of the game.

You can then find a website with videos of people playing and beating the same games you do.

Fwiw, I think these are the most important keys to being a profitable poker player:

- table selection (once you've learnt the game, you should play in games where you have an edge)

- bankroll management (you can't play or play properly if you are bust or close to bust)

- managing tilt (try not to let emotions affect you from always making the correct play which will make you the most money in the long term)

- being good at the game

At some point, if you'll be playing cash games, I would recommend reading the following excellent book:

Professional No-Limit Hold 'em: Volume I
Authors Matt Flynn, Sunny Mehta, and Ed Miller

At 1-2, people aren’t going to make big bluffs like that. Their bets usually mean exactly what you think. Until you actually see evidence that someone is capable of that kind of bluff, assume he’s not.