Villain just sat down maybe 10 hands before this hand that will be played out.

HERO on the button with A9s.

Pre-flop straddle in play. UTG+1 calls the straddle, UTG+2 calls as well. HERO makes it 18 on the button, folds around to UTG+2 who calls.

FLOP (Pot close to 55-60)
Ad 8s 3c

UTG+2 leads out 60..

HERO........?

Stacks were pretty even ~250 each.

You got it head's up, so you're probably be fine, but I'm either raising this to $25-$30 on the button or overlimping.

The pot is $49, no? Each of your $18 for $36, plus blinds ($1+2+5=8), plus UTG+1 = $49.

In any event, $60 is a big bet into $49 (or $55-60) and if you call, it's $190 behind with a pot of $170. Not a spot you want to be in with top pair middling kicker on a dry board.

He could be bluffing, but with no reads I think this is a pretty clear fold, and he probably made your job easier by leading rather than check-raising or calling your bet.

Typically in a straddled pot with 2 limpers I'm going around 26-30 pre.

You probably need to fold right now. If he's donking out for more than the pot OTF his most likely line OTT is to do that again. Unless we know he is a maniac I doubt we want to stack off with pair of aces, nine kicker.

you're correct with the math. i was just lazy and on my phone and didn't wanna calculate it.

Easy fold until you have a better idea of what type of player he is. Def guys I'm happy about calling here and giiott and MOST other 1-2 players just snap folding. I think it can be close sometimes and in that case is lean towards folding as they just seem to have it when they so stuff like this.

Must fold. Vs at HCP do not donk bet into pots without top pair. And you don't have a good enough kicker to continue on further streets. I actually think he probably has two pair.

Open slightly bigger with the limpers in front, especially early limpers as in this case. 18 is a good opener if no one has limped yet regardless of position.

Probably a fold here ... My guess is 2 pair or AK and he doesnt want to get drawn out on. Thank him later for keeping chips in your stack when you felt him with a set in the same spot. GL

If you are going to fold on the flop when you hit your ace heads-up with an SPR of 4, then I don't see the point of having raised this preflop. At least when one raises from the button with a much worse suited ace, you can legitimately believe that you might fold out better aces...and subsequently feel more comfortable folding an A-high flop. However, you simply bloated the pot with a fairly good hand, only to put yourself in a position to fold or play for stacks with a "meh" kicker.

I think there's a lot of merit to limping but I don't think there's anything wrong with raising to fold this flop with part of your range. I mean, I'd never limp AJss there, but I could probably fold it to a mega donk bet from a tight player on that flop.

Villian likely has Top pair and good kicker or two pair. Lay it down and I would consider folding preflop. It is your money but, you will have a lot more posts like this if you dont. You really want to hit a 9, not the ace.....

He's pretty much an unknown donking over pot into you on a very dry board. I'd let this go pretty easy and look for a better spot.

never folding top pair to an unknown for one bet here.

I realize there's no draws out, but still I can't raise A 9 otb and then just fold to one bet. He can be doing this w/ a worse ace, 8x, any pp. He limp/calls then donks and we automatically put him on AT+, 2 pair, sets? Why?

Further more, regardless of what he actually has here, I don't want people feeling comfortable calling my raises oop. I don't want them to think they can bet into me when I raise in late position and force an easy fold. I don't want to give the impression that I'm light when I'm opening in position.

Your on the button where nobody gives you credit for having a hand, this is an easy call. If he double barrels the turn then we have a decision. If your not comfortable calling a flop bet after you hit top pair, then why did you raise pre? I'm not saying that you must now be married to the hand and take it to the felt, but folding to one flop bet is ridiculously weak.

FWIW I would be calling ATC on the flop and forcing him to play another street oop against me, the preflop raiser. He just sat down, he knows nothing about you either. Anybody can fire a bet on an A high board into a button raiser, not many will follow through ott w/o a hand though. call

Disagree. Calling the flop leaves ~psb left, were pretty much committed if we call the flop aren't we?