Situations to fold an AA on the river in Texas hold'em.

christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #1
Although AA is the best starting hand in Texas Hold'em, it is not unbeatable, especially on the river when all the community cards have been revealed. Knowing how to fold AA on the river is a sign of strategic maturity. Here are real and reasonable situations in which folding AA on the river can be the best play:
 
  • Love
Reactions: Grzegorz00pl
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #2
Strategy #1:

✅ The board completes an obvious straight and the villain is tight
Example:
You have A♠ A♦
Board: 9♣ T♥ J♠ Q♠ 2♦
The opponent, who has played passively up to this point, goes all-in on the river.

➡️ Any K makes a straight. If he's not a bluffer and only goes all in with nuts, folding is sensible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grzegorz00pl, sandy358 and eetenor
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #3
Strategy #2


✅ 2. obvious flush is completed and the villain shows strength

Example:
You have A♣ A♥
Board: 7♠ 4♠ T♦ Q♠ 2♠
The villain calls all your bets and raises all-in on the river.

➡️ He may have a flush (even a small one) that beats you. Without the A♠, you don't even have the blocker. Fold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grzegorz00pl and Vallet
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #4
Strategy #3

✅ 3. passive opponent only shows aggression on the river
Example:
You control the pot with AA. The board is 2♦ 5♣ 8♠ 8♣ K♦
The villain only calls until the river and then raises big.

➡️ This type of line (check-call, check-call, river raise) is usually very strong - like a three-bet or a full house. Fold AA here is prudent.
 
F

fundiver199

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Total posts
16,164
Awards
2
Poker Chips
1,051
Casino Coins
0
  • #5
christovam said:
Strategy #3

✅ 3. passive opponent only shows aggression on the river
Example:
You control the pot with AA. The board is 2♦ 5♣ 8♠ 8♣ K♦
The villain only calls until the river and then raises big.

➡️ This type of line (check-call, check-call, river raise) is usually very strong - like a three-bet or a full house. Fold AA here is prudent.
Complete agree with this, but there is also an issue here, if we go bet, bet, bet with AA, because what are we expecting to get called down by, that we beat? On the flop we beat everything except sets and some weird two pair, so this is a very clear bet for value. However on the turn we no longer beat top pair, because that is now trips. Ok we can still get value from draws, and maybe second pair type hands like 66-77 and A5 will also call again, because now its less likely, we have an 8.

But if we bet the turn and get action, what are we then getting called by on the river? Busted draws are not calling, and is 66-77 or A5 really calling again, now that we might have hit the K? If we raised preflop, people will assume, this card often hit us with hands like AK or KQ. So we are basically hoping, the opponent floated us on the flop with KX of clubs, continued when he picked up the flushdraw on the turn, and now he kind of accidentally hit top pair. Or maybe he could have K5 and improved to a better two pair, than he had on the turn.

Thats a very narrow range of hands to target, so for me this hand is an excellent example of betting "for value" without actually considering, which hands the opponent can have, that will pay you off. I would much rather check back this turn card, which was frankly pretty bad both for my hand and likely also my range, since the BB is more likely to have an 8, than I am. Then I keep the pot small and can either easily call a river bet or bet for thin value if checked to again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
kaynbergo

kaynbergo

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Total posts
535
Awards
1
UA
Poker Chips
702
Casino Coins
0
  • #6
I try not to let my opponent just see the river when I have AA
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #7
fundiver199 said:
Concordo totalmente com isso, mas também há um problema aqui, se formos apostar, apostar, apostar com AA, porque o que esperamos ser pagos, que vencemos? No flop, vencemos tudo, exceto sets e alguns dois pares estranhos, então esta é uma aposta muito clara pelo valor. No entanto, no turn, não vencemos mais o par mais alto, porque agora são trincas. Ok, ainda podemos obter valor de draws, e talvez mãos do tipo segundo par como 66-77 e A5 também pagarão novamente, porque agora é menos provável, temos um 8.

Mas se apostarmos no turn e entrarmos em ação, o que estamos sendo pagos no river? Empates quebrados não estão chamando, e 66-77 ou A5 estão realmente pagando de novo, agora que podemos ter atingido o K? Se aumentarmos pré-flop, as pessoas vão presumir que essa carta geralmente nos atinge com mãos como AK ou KQ. Então, estamos basicamente esperando, o oponente nos fez flutuar no flop com KX de paus, continuou quando ele pegou o flushdraw no turn, e agora ele meio que acidentalmente acertou o par mais alto. Ou talvez ele pudesse ter K5 e melhorado para dois pares melhores do que no turn.

Essa é uma gama muito estreita de mãos para almejar, então para mim essa mão é um excelente exemplo de apostar "por valor" sem realmente considerar quais mãos o oponente pode ter, que irão valer a pena. Eu prefiro verificar esta carta do turn, que foi francamente muito ruim tanto para minha mão quanto provavelmente também para o meu range, já que é mais provável que o BB tenha um 8 do que eu. Então eu mantenho o pote pequeno e posso facilmente pagar uma aposta no river ou apostar por um valor baixo se for verificado novamente.
Your analysis is very interesting. However, that is a possibility, but to extract the villains, in fact, we have to wait and pay in the river.
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #8
kaynbergo said:
Eu tento não deixar meu oponente apenas ver o river quando eu tenho AA
Yes, high stakes can be effective in this case, but on the turn, with a three-bet, there is no bet that it will not pay out on the river.
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #9
Strategy 4#

✅ Board paired with heavy bets (full house sign)
Example:
You have A♣ A♦
Board: 9♥ 9♠ Q♣ Q♦ 4♠
The villain makes a big shove on the river.

➡️ In many cases, this indicates a full house (Q9, 99, QQ). Your AA only beats bluffs - and against this kind of texture and aggression, folding can save a lot of chips.
 
F

fundiver199

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Total posts
16,164
Awards
2
Poker Chips
1,051
Casino Coins
0
  • #10
christovam said:
Strategy 4#

✅ Board paired with heavy bets (full house sign)
Example:
You have A♣ A♦
Board: 9♥ 9♠ Q♣ Q♦ 4♠
The villain makes a big shove on the river.

➡️ In many cases, this indicates a full house (Q9, 99, QQ). Your AA only beats bluffs - and against this kind of texture and aggression, folding can save a lot of chips.
Totally agree. As in your other example people tend to get to hung up on the fact, they have an overpair to the board, which does not really matter on a paired board. In this example what is really the difference between having :ah4::ad4: or :10s4::10c4: ? Essentially there is none, this they both lose to any hand with either of the following cards in them :9c4::9d4::qs4::qh4:, and these cards are the only ones, people are betting for value. But somehow its much easier for people to lay down :10s4::10c4:.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
Sparta77

Sparta77

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Nov 14, 2024
Total posts
589
HU
Poker Chips
354
Casino Coins
0
  • #11
In the case of an A-A, I go to the flop before the flop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #12
Sparta77 said:
No caso de um A-A, eu vou para o flop antes do flop.
The downside to this tactic is that you lose the chance to extract chips from your opponent. What's more, the deck can punish you in the same way.
 
M

Magallaneroy

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 21, 2023
Total posts
322
VE
Poker Chips
877
Casino Coins
0
  • #13
When there are best hands, like flush of straight.
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #14
Magallaneroy said:
Quando há melhores mãos, como flush de straight.
I didn't understand the question. Could you explain it better?
Or are you just saying that?
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #15
Strategy #5

✅ 5. you have weak blockers and lose out on almost everything
Example:
You have A♥ A♣
Board: J♦ T♦ 9♠ 8♣ 7♠
Obvious sequence. The villain check-raises all-in on the river.

➡️ Most hands that make this move beat you: Q8, QJ, 6♦ 8♦, etc. Fold.
 
martinoni

martinoni

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 20, 2022
Total posts
570
Awards
1
BR
Poker Chips
808
Casino Coins
5
  • #16
I would fold near the bubble of a high stakes tournament that I would get there by a satellite
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
dzsire

dzsire

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 8, 2021
Total posts
1,789
Awards
2
HU
Poker Chips
883
Casino Coins
5
  • #17
With AA, folding would only be realistic if you are in the bubble and have a very big chance of making it to the a bigger prize. But even then, it is not certain that you should fold, it depends on the situation, the number of chips you have and the style of your opponents. I may have folded AA, and that was only because a lot of time had passed in the tournament and I was the short stack and the goal was very-very close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #18
Strategy #6

✅ 6. Multiway pot and ultra-tight villain goes all-in

Example:
3 players see the river:
Board: 5♦ 7♠ 9♣ 5♠ 5♥
You have A♠ A♥
Tight villain goes all-in, another player folds.

➡️ Trinca has turned full house. The probability of facing 5x or even 99 is high. Folding AA in multi-way spots is more acceptable.
 
Sparta77

Sparta77

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Nov 14, 2024
Total posts
589
HU
Poker Chips
354
Casino Coins
0
  • #19
A very rare player is someone who throws A-A.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
TCHUCO2005

TCHUCO2005

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Total posts
1,127
Awards
2
BR
Poker Chips
468
Casino Coins
0
  • #20
I think that, always betting to extract value, of course we can lose a hand, but 80 percent of the time AA is a winning hand.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #21
Strategy #7

✅7. You don't represent strong hands, but the villain bets as if he knows he'll win.
Example:
You check-call on all streets with AA. The board turns K♦ Q♣ J♠ 9♥ T♣
The villain goes all-in on the river.

➡️ You played passive and didn't block any cards in the sequence. Hard to pay here.
 
Pavelmiyah

Pavelmiyah

Rock Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 8, 2021
Total posts
158
BD
Poker Chips
430
Casino Coins
0
  • #22
But today i pot rise with queen's. Then opposite player all-in with king's so i am out from no. 3rd position 😭🤣
 
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #23
Pavelmiyah said:
Mas hoje eu aumento do pote com a rainha. Em seguida, o jogador oposto all-in com o King's, então estou fora da 3ª posição 😭🤣
But the likelihood of this happening is minimal.
 
kaynbergo

kaynbergo

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Total posts
535
Awards
1
UA
Poker Chips
702
Casino Coins
0
  • #24
Yes, sometimes AA on the river just turns into a couple that doesn't solve anything. That's why I try not to let my opponents watch the river cheaply when I'm fishing for AA
 
  • Like
Reactions: christovam
christovam

christovam

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2022
Total posts
1,301
Awards
3
BR
Poker Chips
679
Casino Coins
0
  • #25
kaynbergo said:
Sim, às vezes AA no river simplesmente se transforma em um casal que não resolve nada. É por isso que tento não deixar meus oponentes assistirem o river de forma barata quando estou pescando AA
But the likelihood of this happening is minimal.
 
Folding in Poker
Top