1/2 at local casino

Villain - Middle aged regular, kind of spastically aggressive/over aggressive. I've played with him numerous times. I dont know if he recognizes me or not. He can play a very solid game but can sometimes be over agressive and try and run over the game.

Hero - Been one of the more active players at the table, havent been involved in any huge/notable pots but have been playing pretty well after the flop and getting good value at showdowns and also picking up several pots uncontested. Has shown down no bluffs, but has folded to raises a few times.

There is a very clear dynamic (from hero's perspective obv) of Villain, hero and two other players beating up on the rest of the table.

Hero's stack ~450
Villains stack ~300

1 limper
Hero UTG+2 A9 limps for $2
1 other limper
Villain raises to $15 OTB
Folds to Hero

At this point, I am sure that A9 is well ahead of Villain's button raising range, which is basically ATC in this situation. He tends to be fairly aggressive in CO/BTN.

Hero Raises to $40
Villain calls fairly quickly.


I put his range after my call at AXs, A9o+, K9s+, QJ, Q10, J10, any pair. I frankly thought that a limp reraise would have some decent fold equity to fold him out, but I'm not overly concerned that he called here, as this villain is not afraid to play pots and I feel there is a good chance that he will call my PF raise with worse. This isnt a situation where villains 3bet call automatically equals 1010+ AQ+. So, I'm confident that I am currently ahead of his range, but obviously cant be confident that I am in fact ahead.

Flop :: pot $83 after rake and JP drop ::
A73

Hero bets $55
Villain raises to $125 fairly quickly
Hero...?

Really my question goes towards how you approach the situation when you raise PF based on villains perceived range and then hit your card. I know that 3betting A9s oop is not standard, but I tried to explain my rationale for doing so, but thoughts on that are welcome.

I really don't like the limp re-raise PF. Prefer to either fold or just open raise it myself. You have overrepresented your hand strength and are still being raised as the hand progressed. I think we can fold to the flop raise.

I don't want a big pot oop withy a9s, even if I am ahead of his range. I guess I fold here as well, I don't want to commit with tpmk here and if I call here I think I have to stack off. As it is I have put in 1/3 of the effective stacks and am folding which is generally a mistake.

Just fold the A9s in UTG+2.

But now we're in this situation... call the raise and check/raise allin on any turn. This villain has air a lot of the time (when you consider his range and his perception of our range).

Our SPR is like 1:2.25 and we have top pair against a player who has been getting out of line on a flop that is great for him to bluff (he knows there are no draws and anyone without an ace has to fold) he also puts us on JJ, QQ, KK monsters or garbage.

If you're going to play spewy like this, you've got to learn to embrace the variance. Also... when they call this fast preflop... its not often AK or A2-A9... he didn't think of folding or repopping...

Its more likely some kind of suited connector or small-medium pair and he's planning to play the player.

+1

Limping is OK with it.
Based on your description of villain, just wait for a better time, hope you're the lucky one who has a solid hand against him.

why do you want to bloat the pot oop with a weak ace against a player you deem as over aggressive?
you can only get yourself in trouble here especially when you flop TP

as played i check the flop your either way ahead here or way behind
if your way ahead your only going to get about 2 streets of value anyways and or your hoping to induce him to rep the ace and bluff some

oh and fold when he raises the flop

-1

I would never back raise this crap but I may open with it and/or limp call with it depending on the stacks and how well I match up with the lineup. I say this because I have no problem folding top pair with a marginal kicker.

Just fold and pick a better spot IMO.

GS

+1
Limping or opening this hand in a standard 1/2 game is profitable imo.
The ole limp re-raise against lagtard that has position on you is almost never a good idea. I'm all for 3b him light for value but not oop.

although you are ahead of his range in your eyes A9ss does not play well oop with stacks this deep, also im guessing you wanted him to fold so you need to 3b more than to $40, being in position ppl flat your 3b more often with marginal holdings because you will be in a tough spot

another thing, if you two are basically table captains, i understand you will have to play each other in some hands, but why are you forcing this with such marginal holdings

as played i prefer to c/c on the flop if he is as aggressive as you say

You put youreselve into this spot. You get toppair, you invested 1/3 of youre stack against an aggressive opponent who tries to run over the table.

Lets say he does have AK/AQ here, this board is extremely dry. Why would he reraise you?

Hes trying to figure out if you hit that ace or not. You did, folding now is really bad against given opponent.

Probably shoving it in right now opposed to check/shoving turn. If you check turn and we go with (my) read, hes probably checking behind giving him another free card.