Game is $2-$60 spread limit, 9 handed, live, max buy-in is $200. Most of the table has around $200-$400 in front of them. The game has been playing pretty loose.

player A - ~$300 starting (my take of him is he overplays many hands but picks up lots of pots because people won't call his large bets vs. pot size, but I think he has somewhat a clue about hands, not one to be bluffed, calls down all the time)
player B ~$500 starting (guy thinks he's better than he is, too loose preflop but plays somewhat decent postflop)
player C (short stack just waiting to get it in preflop is my guess being ATo+, also short stacked at a total of $43)


Some folds, player A holds AA raises to $12 (which is a normal raise for game, especially for him), some folds, player B calls on the button with KT, player C is in SB and thinks, then raises all in for $43 total), folded around to player B who thinks, then finally just calls, player B thinks for a bit and calls.

Postflop player B gets player A in trouble cause of KT"x" flop.

After hand is done, player A invests like ~$300 for his preflop and postflop play, player B wins hand. player A leaves to reload from ATM.

After hand while player A is gone, most of the player decide to berate player A for not re-raising preflop max to get HUs with player C. I don't play a ton of spread or NL. BUT, my initial thought was if player A did a clue about his image, just smooth calling will win him a bigger pot long term, he is going to get HUs against one other player and one player who is all-in and doesn't necessarily have a huge hand. Also a re-raise of max ($60) would likely get player B to fold his $12 investment versus now $91 to call. Plus, a call get pot to be $131 and potential to grow versus $88 with an all-in.

My question is, is it that big a mistake to just smooth call the re-raise preflop?
Second, especially if you have a super loose image and aggressive postflop with not strong hands?

Calling is super-standard. You should be silently fist-pumping when C shoves, since it's an easy way to get B to invest more in the pot, and go to a flop with an SPR of like 2:1.

The spread limit aspect of this is kinda aggravating postflop, but doesn't change the conclusion.

+1

honestly with only a $60 max bet, I am pretty much pumping whenever I can. I am never trying to play tricky with these stakes and trap people. Your only FE is going to come pre and maybe on the flop. Turn and river hope and pray.

Why the **** would you want FE with Aces against a mega whale when you have an SPR of like 2? There's literally no way for the guy with aces to make a mistake (except by folding) postflop because the SPR is so godamn low. Player B would have easily stacked off with probably any draw and any TP but probably wouldn't call 100$ preflop with only $12 invested so player A made the perfect call.

I am not talking about FE in this hand. Of course I want him to play, but I am also not going to be flat calling 3 bets with players to act behind me and I am only allowed to bet $60 the whole way. Besides if he is a "mega whale" whats $60 to him? Pump in this game as much as possible. If the SL was higher (say $100-200) then we can build a case for flatting the 3bet. But when its a $60 max bet, cmon, no brainer.

Raisy daisy with AA. Player B called one bet, he'll likely call another. Don't get results orientated because someone binks two pair. Most of the time this will end up going Player A bets, player B folds.

The real mistake player A made was to shove $300 into this hand. As soon as he got raised post flop, he should be looking to get to show down fairly cheaply.

There is only player B to act after player A, player C is all in and everyone else folded.

I'm pretty surprised some players think player B will just as easily call 31 additional preflop for the all-in from player C as he would 91 if we repop max 60 on top.

If we repop and player B actually calls 91, I don't think it would typically go player A bets and player B folds even for $60 on almost any flop.

I agree with you on your second part.

I was not any of the players in the hand but after thinking about it I didn't mind the fish (player A)'s play at all and thought it would be the preferred way.

yeah me too