AQ Complete Debacle On The River – Misplay Of The Day

I had no stats on the villain at this point (it later turns out that he is 8/5/1.3).

Poker Stars, $1/$2 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker Hand History Converter

MP2: $435.75
CO: $46
BTN: $210.55
SB: $206
BB: $200
UTG: $203
UTG+1: $179
UTG+2: $225
Hero (MP1): $278

Pre-Flop: Q A dealt to Hero (MP1)

3 folds, Hero raises to $8, MP2 calls $8, 4 folds

Flop: ($19) 2 A J (2 Players)
Hero bets $14, MP2 raises to $28, Hero calls $14

I’m still a little taken hazy on these situations sometimes, his raise feels weak, three-betting seems like overkill. At this point though I’m putting him on a weak ace, jack or flush draw. I decided to call and re-evaluate on the turn.

Turn: ($75) J (2 Players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

River: ($75) K (2 Players)
Hero bets $44, MP2 raises to $88, Hero calls $44

Turn went check/check. The river car means I am splitting with any ace (besides AJ and AK), so what am I getting value out of by betting? He only really calls if he ties or has me beat. Whereas if I take the check/call line I can get him to bluff some worse hands. At the time I didn’t really think about this, just fired out a value bet. My PLAN was to bet/fold, and this is probably the more annoying part about this hand to me, I didn’t stick to my plan. His mini-raise on the river is ultra-strong, nearly always a full house or trip jacks. Yet I abandon my plan and call.

Results: $251 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP2 showed K K (a full house, Kings full of Jacks) and WON $248 (+$124 NET)
Hero mucked Q A and LOST (-$124 NET)

Lesson to be learned from this hand is decide on a line and then stick to it, if you can’t execute your plans then what is the point. Also, assess the board and what you will actually be looked up by that you beat in some situations.