A well played hand with AA... ...

A short intro of players:


BB - A TAG regular
MP1 - A super loose fish (32/20 after 80+ hands)


Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

BTN: $26.15 (104.6 bb)
SB: $39.46 (157.8 bb)
BB: $42.06 (168.2 bb)
UTG+1: $26.93 (107.7 bb)
UTG+2: $12.83 (51.3 bb)
MP1: $24.44 (97.8 bb)
MP2: $25.10 (100.4 bb)
Hero (MP3): $25.22 (100.9 bb)
CO: $28.35 (113.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A A
2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.50, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $2, 3 folds, BB calls $1.75, MP1 calls $1.50

Flop: ($6.10) 5 7 9 (3 players)
BB checks, MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $4, BB calls $4, MP1 calls $3

Turn: ($18.10) 9 (3 players)
BB checks, MP1 bets $3, Hero calls $3, BB raises to $36.06 and is all-in, MP1 folds, Hero calls $16.22 and is all-in

River: ($59.54) Q (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $59.54 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: 5 7 9 9 Q
BB showed K K and lost (-$25.22 net)
MP1 mucked and lost (-$9 net)
Hero showed A A and won $57.54 ($32.32 net)

Preflop:

• The range that I put the Mp1 fish was very wide. It could basically be anything since he open any thrashes and not folding them vs my 3 bet. 
• With regards to the BB, he could be calling with any pairs, suited connectors or AJs+, AQo. 

Flop:

• I chose to raise MP1 fish flop donk bet as a form of protection for my hand as well as for value. I was expecting MP1 to call alot of my raise if I am ahead or he will reraise me if he is ahead.
• What surprises me is that BB called as well in such a draw heavy board. 

Turn:

• The 9 of hearts is a very bad card for me. Anyone holding on the a 9 is now crushing my AA. 
• The guy most likely to hold the 9 is the Mp1 fish. The TAG BB is not likely to have an 9 due to all the preflop and flop actions. 
• Therefore, when the MP1 fish leads out, I decided to just call his small bet.
• All of a sudden, BB shoves! And the MP1 fish who is most likely to crush me folds!
• The BB shoves here doesnt make sense. If he has a set, he will most likely going to raise flop when there are so much action then. The 9 of hearts doesnt seem to help him alot.
• And after watching MP1 folds, I called the BB shove pretty quickly since I am quite confident I am right here. 

This actually causes me to think about why the TAG BB played this way. My hypothesis:

Preflop:

1. Given that I 3 betted MP1, the BB is worried about bumping into AA (and correctly so) and thus, he chose to smooth call my preflop 3 bet. 

Flop

1. Given that I reraised the MP1 donk bet, he perceived me to be holding a strong hand. Possibly a set. Or At least an AA. Thus, he chose to call with KK and not being able to lay it down (Most micro players just simply are married to their KK-AA). 

Turn

1. When he saw me just calling a small donk bet by the fish, he thought that I have a weak hand that cannot withstand a shove from him. Maybe he put me on the exact AA hand which I have to fold if he shove. 
2. Well, he is right in the sense that if MP1 shove, I am going to fold.
3. But I am never going to fold vs his shove as he couldn't logically represent a hand that beats me.