Trip Aces on the Turn, what do you do here?
DECISION POINT: In a live $1-2 game MP1 limps first-in to the pot and 3 players limp behind. You raise from the Big Blind with A♥A♦ and get 3 callers. The flop comes K♣J♦T♥. You bet and only the Cutoff calls. Turn comes A♠ and action is on you. What do you do here?
PRO ANSWER: Our preflop raise size is far too small. An open raise size of $12-15 might be suitable as a first-in sizing, but with 4 limpers in a $1-2 game we will need to make it at least $20 to thin the field appropriately.
As played we should check the turn. If we are ahead, our opponent has essentially no outs and isn't likely to put two streets of bets in. Broadway combos such as KJ, KT, and JT will all attempt to keep the pot small at this point and would likely fold to a river bet after calling a turn bet.
Continued below...
If we are behind, we are drawing against the broadway straight (any Qx hand) and would like to keep the pot small.
Both scenarios (either ahead or behind) prefer a check from us to maximize EV with our range.
If we were to bet, it should be a very small bet. But checking is the better overall line.
Checking is the best play.
How would you play it?
Share your answer in the comments below!
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