Representing the ace against the habitual continuation bettor
This article is going to help explain a concept that you wont find in any No Limit Hold’em book that’s been printed to my knowledge. However, it’s an advanced play that if you use it occasionally will increase your hourly earnings. It’s a play that you don’t want to overuse, but works like a charm when used sparingly. The play is what I call “Representing the Ace”. I will explain the concept in the following paragraphs.
This play works well against a thinking player that is a bit over aggressive. It involves a cute little play with the flop checkraise when out of position and the feeler raise in position. Lets break down each situation individually. We are going to assume for these exercises that you have a tight , solid image and your opponent has an image of being solid, but aggressive and makes the obligatory continuation bet a bit too often.
Lets take the play in position first as it’s a bit easier to play. I like to play most hands with position on my opponent. I can control the action a bit better and control the pot size to a manageable level. Lets say for example were in a 2-4 blinds NL game and we have a stack of $400. Our opponents have the same stack sizes as us.
Opponent open raises in MP to $14.00 and you decide to float the opponent with a tight image with the 7s 5s. Everyone else folds and you are heads up with your opponent in position.
The flop comes As 9c 6h leaving you nothing but a gutshot straight draw and a backdoor flush draw. Now your opponent bets $20.00 into the pot of $34.00. This should be identified as a standard continuation bet. Now, your opponent being a solid player can make this continuation bet with anything from top set to air in this situation.
Now, the things that set this hand up for this play are that the board is uncoordinated, and you do have some outs. However, its not a draw where you can call this bet. If you do indeed have a tight, solid image the play is to raise here on occasion to $50-$55.00. This looks like a value raise to a solid player and it represents at least a strong ace. More than likely if your opponent doesn’t have at least a strong ace, he isn’t going to stick around. He is going to fold.
Obviously , you don’t want to make this play against a calling station as the fold equity must be relatively high. Also, if you get called, you do have some outs and are in position to take a free card on the turn should you choose to. I would recommend taking the free card as your second barrel (should you choose to fire it) is a big favorite to be called. However, the success rate of this play when used in moderation against thinking opponents is very good.
Lets examine the play when it happens and you are out of position. This will usually occur when someone in late position raises on a steal, and you call from the big blind with a suspect hand.
Same setup of 2-4 NL, stacks of 400 each. Folded to your opponent who makes it $14.00 to go from the cutoff seat, button and small blind fold, and you call from the big blind with 6c 8c.
The flop comes Ac 9s 5d. This situation is similar as before but you check to the raiser and he bets $20.00. You then stall and pull the check raise to $65.00 total. The reason that the check raise needs to be bigger is the fact that it needs to have some leverage to drive the opponent out. A checkraise to $50-55 is a bit easier to call.
Now this play must not be used very often from the big blind in this situation. A very special set of circumstances must be met. The opponent must be a aggressive player that is capable of laying down a hand. You must also have a tight, solid image bordering on nut peddler status and the board must be a very dry one. There shouldn’t be any real draws out there. The reason why this play should not be performed too often is that the flop checkraise out of position is overused and less likely to be believed. If you were to break it down as far as usage, I would use this play only one time for every four times I use the other play in position. Another reason you shouldn’t use this play nearly as much is that it is highly volatile being out of position. The check raise can get expensive when you are wrong. Also, if your checkraise on the flop gets called, you are not likely to get a free card on the turn. You will in fact then have to fire a large second barrel when you miss, or give up on the hand.
This play is only a change up type of play that can add to your hourly earn but if you use it more than you should you can actually hurt your bottom line. it’s a nice play to feel good about yourself once in a while when you win a pot you shouldn’t. It actually has a high success rate when used properly. Good luck at the tables.
