$50 NL @ Prima.

im the big stack w/ $150....i limp UTG w/ [Kc]....UTG+1 ($24) limps..MP1 ($48) raises to $2. folds back to me. i re-raise to $7.50

both UTG+1 and MP1 call.

flop: [Ah][3c]
pot size: $23.50

uh-oh. UTG+1 is something of a calling station who, although i haven't seen enough hands to be certain, most likely gets attached to AK/AQ/AJ type hands, and doesn't know enough to fold them against a limp-reraise. MP1 is solid and aggressive. he could easily have AK here...or QQ/JJ/TT. UTG+1 could have any variety of holdings...many of which include an Ace. and he's only got $16 left...so he's probably not going anywhere.

do i check/fold my cowboys? or lead out and hope that neither player has an Ace?

jon

against 2 players, i probably check fold. against 1, i take a stab at it.

I'd lead out for 1/2 pot, and be done if they call or raise...

I would usually check fold here. The chances of you being ahead of both of them is very small. If you have the best hand you might get to check to showdown. I dont like the 1/2 pot bet here, because one of your opponants is short. If he calls you are sunk and you arent going to be able to fold if he raises all in. If all the players here had full stacks I may try take this pot down now. With one player having $16 left, you have to bet $16 to try to take down the pot and I dont think you win this pot enough to justify the semibluff.

I didn't see one was so shortstacked... I check/fold...

this was my thought process: i was up about 3 1/2 buy-ins for the day...so if i lose $15...i'll still feel good about the session. and even if the shortstack is a fish...the other player is not. he isn't going to be calling reraises with A-x hands unless it's AK. and i had 2 of the Kings, making AK less likely. so i think i can get him out of this pot. i was almost sure i could get heads up against the short-stack.

the limited potential for loss, combined with my extremely successful session, combined with my opinion that it is more likely for players to call reraises with pocket pairs than with AK/AQ/AJ type hands made up my mind. so i led for $15. shortstack called, UTG folded. i put in his last $1.50 on the turn (not sure why i didnt just do it on the flop). he thought, called, and flipped up TT. river was a blank and i won.

jon

good job this time. short stacks are normally short for a reason, they suck. however, they often suck because they play Ax to the end with tp nk and lose a lot of money.