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I was playing in a tournament. About 115 players started each getting 5000 chips. There was about 45 players left and I had just been moved to a different table, I had 17000 in chips. The blinds were now 1000/2000. The second hand after I sat down I was the big blind and was dealt pocket Aces. One player bet 2000, all others including the small blind folded.

What bet should I make?

The player who bet 2000 had more chips than me but I'm not sure how much as I had just been moved to the table.

In the actual game, I raised to 5000 (an additional 3000). The other player called. The flop was K, J, 7 all different suits. I bet 2000, the other player called. The turn was a 5, I bet another 2000. The other player raised another 3000. This left me with 5000 so I went in all. The other player called. He showed K, 3 not suited.

My bad luck, the river card was a 3 and I was knocked out.

Should I have bet differently? Should I have gone all in before the flop?

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    This is going to be totally opinion based. There isn't a right or wrong answer here.
    – StartPlayer
    Commented Jul 12, 2018 at 14:23
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    2000 is a call, not a bet.
    – The Chaz 2.0
    Commented Jul 12, 2018 at 15:17
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    @StartPlayer There exists an optimal mixed strategy. One can have opinions as to what it is, but what it is is a factual question (albeit one dependent on factors not included in the question).
    – Acccumulation
    Commented Jul 12, 2018 at 16:40
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    @StartPlayer - can you move your comments to an answer? Your expertise here should lead to a good answer. Thanks!
    – Pat Ludwig ♦
    Commented Jul 17, 2018 at 2:39
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    @StartPlayer - An opinion based on specific expertise is what we call an answer around here :) Sharing your knowledge is what we live for!
    – Pat Ludwig ♦
    Commented Jul 17, 2018 at 16:00

2 Answers 2

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You had 8 big blinds. That is a spot to push pre flop (go all-in) out of position (OOP). You should be playing a wide range in that spot and could get called with a wide range. You win the bet that was placed and the small blind if the villain folds. Losing to K3 is unlucky but you need to gamble with a small stack and AA is a good hand to gamble with.

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    For the uninitiated: Please explain what "at 8 bb", "is a cooler" and "pick up the bet and sb" mean.
    – Forget I was ever here
    Commented Aug 1, 2018 at 2:21
  • Agree 100% with this opinion. It is a much better line. Added some edits to clarify some of the poker slang.
    – Ontamu
    Commented Aug 2, 2018 at 7:07
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With pocket aces, calling (not raising) is slow playing. It can work, because players with lower pairs or Ace King, or Ace rag (a low card) might play or raise instead of folding. If they raise, then I would have probably re-raised about 4 times the raise or at least the full pot before the flop as there is always the danger any low cards will make 2 pair, 3 of a kind or trips.

As a general rule never go all in with nothing, I would avoid it with one pair, even two pair is risky, unless you have more chips and will win a decent side pot if you lose. K 3 was a terrible hand to call with and you were just unlucky. If it's any consolation, he must have had a dreadful night to call with it.

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