When this guy came over the top of my re-re-raise it concerned me. If he had pushed I would have called. The fact that he choose to pot commit himself without pushing didn't sit well with me. I know the conventional wisdom is to always push Kings at small stakes and take your lumps when you run into AA but the fact that he came over the top of me without going all in just smelled like AA to me. Why the heck would he want to take a flop (or let me take a flop or give me the opportunity to put in a fourth raise all in) with anything but AA?

Doesn't QQ and below either call my reraise or push? I mean who the heck wants to take a flop for half their stack with QQ or JJ? Doesn't AK either call my reraise, fold, or push? The fact that he made it $30 to go really got my attention. I figured the player is either an idiot (an unusual idiot at that as idiot AQ and AK push here) or has AA. I can't even see him choosing this amount to re-re-re raise thinking he can get me to lay down as he has to fear AA if he doesn't hold it.

What I'm really looking for is feedback with respect to my reasoning. I already understand the always push KK at low stakes and used to do that. I am trying to improve upon that under certain conditions when I play.


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (8 handed)

SB ($95.67)
BB ($66.5)
UTG ($52.5)
Hero ($70.25)
MP1 ($18.5)
MP2 =#A500AF(Villian)/ ($54.1)
CO ($49)
Button ($96.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, MP2 =#A500AF(Villian)/ raises to $5, 4 folds, UTG folds, Hero raises to $12, MP2 =#A500AF(Villian)/ raises to $30, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $43.25

Need a read on the guy! Idiot or non-idiot?

I saw a couple of guys re-raise each other all-in at my table last night and I was pretty sure it was AA vs KK because I had played with them before and they were both pretty decent players.

I agree with your reasoning here. But without a read of some sort on what type of player (or just how good) the opponent is, I'm not sure I can fold.

He could also have the other Ks. Not likely but possible.

I would have played AA just like the villian, so I think you made an outstanding laydown and got away from KK as cheaply as possible. Nicely done!