Hand Analysis: Facing a Triple-Barrel With Top Pair, Bad Kicker
Today I have another hand to share from the $3,500 buy-in World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open Championship I played a couple of months ago. This one ends with a tricky river decision where I have to decide what to do with a marginal made hand after facing a third barrel from the preflop raiser.
It was the 200/300 level (with a 300 big blind ante), and action began with a tight-aggressive player opening for 700 from under the gun. It folded to me on the button where I'd been dealt A♠7♠ and I called. The big blind called as well. Effective stacks were deep, with my 108 BB stack (to start the hand) the shortest among the three of us.
The flop came A♥5♠4♦, the big blind checked, and the UTG player continued for 1,400 into the 2,600 pot.
As I explain below, this is a situation where I'm glad to call and see what develops. I did, the big blind folded, then after the Q♠ fell on the turn my opponent bet 2,400 (close to 45% pot).
While my made hand — aces with a weak kicker — is only marginal, it is still best some of the time. Plus I've picked up the nut-flush draw, which gave me more incentive to call once more, making the pot 10,200.
The river then brought the 9♦ and a bet of 4,000 from my opponent. This third bet definitely seems to indicate strength, and probably a good ace (i.e., better than mine). Should I fold? Or call? Or raise?
See what I decided to do below, and listen to how I evaluate the situation and available options.
Jonathan Little is a professional poker player and author with over $7,000,000 in live tournament earnings. He writes a weekly educational blog and hosts a podcast at JonathanLittlePoker.com. Sign up to learn poker from Jonathan for free at PokerCoaching.com. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanLittle.
