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I was playing in a live APAT (Amateur Poker Association and Tour) event in England. Buy-in £75+7. Starting stacks 15k, 170 entries, 45-minute clock.

Ten handed, nearing the end of level 1 (25/50) I'd won a few pots and chipped-up to 16.5k. I had a good table image. Mid-twenties villain raises to 200 (4x) from UTG+2. I couldn't remember him playing a hand in the first 35 minutes and this was definitely his first raise. I perceive him as tight.

I look down at AA in middle-position and re-raise to 700. Folds to him and he calls. (Pot: 1475)

Flop is J-9-4 rainbow. He checks and I bet 800 into 1475. He c/r to 2000. I call. (Pot: 5475)

Turn is 9, totally rainbow board. He leads for 3k into 5475. I decide to call. (Pot:11475)

River is 8 and he shoves all-in for 9.5k. I have about 11k.

What do I do? And thoughts on my play so far please.

Fold. Looking back on the preflop play, I believe you are facing JJ here (at the worst, pocket 4's; you can almost rule out 99 here with a 9 on the turn). He called your raise to see a flop, hit his set and check-raised you (you should've folded here).

I actually think that your call on the flop and turn with rainbow flop (then board pair) is a bit passive, especially with a chip advantage and heads up with AA. His flop c/r is a natural move early in a tournament with KK QQ 10's or even AJ off. In reality your ranging him as tight can only be applied to his pre-flop play as you have never seen him take a line up to this point. Also, ranging him with JJ is problematic as passive tight players often don't c/r when they flop sets as they are in such a limited number of pots that they have to get more value from the hands that they play. With top set I do not see him trying to end this hand with such a dry board texture. I think that on the flop after he c/r you, you should have either 3b him at about 5200 or even jammed in full. If you did make the mistake of getting to the turn in this hand, you are now in a rough spot instead of taking control of the hand and maybe the tourney...

Thanks for the feedback. This is the first hand I've posted on a forum as I really want to improve my thought process 'in the moment', so it's very useful to have two differing opinions already.

champyun03 - That's interesting that you see the flop c/r as clearly indicative of a set. Are you saying you would automatically fold on the flop to avoid any difficult decisions on later streets?

MileHiMafia - I agree that my play may have been a bit too passive. However, we were so deep (300BB) that I didn't want to bloat the pot with a one-pair hand, even if it was Aces. Is it wrong to try and pot control at this early stage, or should I be trying to get all the chips in on this flop, no matter what? If I c/r to 5200 and he jams is it a fold? Or am I trying to induce that play from QQ or KK and if he has JJ, 99, J9s or 44 then it's just a cooler?

Remember, after a c/r on a dry board like that you are not trying to "bloat the pot"... You are trying to pick up dead money and create an aggressive post flop image. I don't mind the b/f if you 3b him to 5200. If he folds on the flop after such pre and post action, it shows that you will take pot control and gives you an aggressive image for the duration of your stay at this table. If he jams and you feel like you can truly range him on a set or two pair, then folding is not too outrageous as you still have about 10k in chips. If he just calls your 3b you can then plan to jam, or re-range him based on 4th street and adjust. But the worst line you can take to lose control in low buy in live tournaments is passive calling as it becomes spewy and usually ends with you being put in uncomfortable situations on later streets.

sorry I meant 4b to 5200...

or did I? hahaha

3b is good :-)

Everything you say makes good sense. 300BB is very deep for me as I generally play these low buy-in tourneys. I'm conscious of the fact that if I get it all-in this deep with an overpair, I'm probably beat, therefore I was probably trying to keep the pot as small as possible. The summary I'm getting from your comments is that I need to try and retain the betting lead and therefore control of the hand. Then I can ask the questions rather than end-up in tricky spots playing a guessing game.

The other thing I wasn't considering is the impact this hand would have on my table image. I was thinking about this hand only. I think it's a good point that I should consider what impact my actions will have on my table image and how my table mates will perceive me for future hands.

Thanks for your comments.

By the way, I folded to the villain's river bet.

I felt that KK, QQ or AJ would never shove the river here after getting called on flop and turn, as they should be worried about being beat and I look like I might well be committed to a river call. Therefore I felt my Aces were effectively a bluff catcher.

I am most worried about JJ, but also lose to an unlikely but possible 99 and a set-mining 44.

As we're so deep J9s, A9s, 9Ts, 89s might also call pre-flop to try and crack a big pair. I'm not sure if a 9 would c/r the flop, but might do to take control of the pot if they put me on AK.

The river 8 also completes QTs, which could make sense if the villain plays his draws strongly.

I think if you are prepared to put your whole stack in at level 1 on a bluff then 'nice hand'. I say "If it's a bluff, it's a good one" and he shows AsTs for a total air ball.

My fold means I still have 11k (220BB) but I can't help thinking about the 32k stack that got away.