How To Make Pros Fold POCKET ACES

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If you think that the correct strategy with pocket aces is to always pile money into the pot as quickly as possible, think again. Today we're taking a deep look at a tough runout for the best starting hand in No Limit Texas Hold'em. I played this hand against Kevin Rabichow in a high stakes heads up challenge at ‪@TheLodgeLive‬

[@DougPolkPoker]

Get on the list for my new course "The End Boss System": upswingpoker.com/hu2023/

[@PissyKnish]

I paid 7 dollars for you to tell me that you dont know the opening ranges for HJ.

[@Hotobu]

@@PissyKnish lol what?

[@12varietyflavors98]

please make more videos like this I absolutely love the solver hand breakdowns

[@SenileDude]

This is the most amazing technical dive into poker I've ever seen as an enthusiast. As a computer science major, it turned my brain to mush!

[@drew8268]

Pretty insane how you adapted to his play from day 1 and demolished him on day 2. Crazy. Keep up the great work

[@Anthony-wp7tz]

How much did he win on day two?

[@tomavs3547]

This video should be only 30 seconds long because the only way is to yell at your computer screen “FOLD” when online

[@pugsnhogz]

You can try it in live games too, YMMV

[@lance862]

Exactly after discovering Doug Polk's KZbin channel this is the single tip that propelled me from a break-even micro player to a truly winning poker God.😂😂😂

[@erikk17]

However doing it life is pretty big tell.

[@papaAJ88]

Some of the time it works every time lol

[@rodrigogarcia8248]

Pretty incredible to have this level of analysis for free! Great work!

[@srki22]

Just to clear things up, I think that Doug always says wrong: The bigger bet size on the river does not allow you to have more bluffs (as in the number of hands), but it does allow you to have more percentage of bluffs in your betting range. So if you bet bigger, you are more polar so you bet with less number of value hands and fewer bluffs, but the percentage of bluffs in that range is higher.

[@billbuttlicker3131]

Love the hair today Selbst!

[@ChadGPT-1.0]

So curious how many people buy the course at $999… good on you Doug for putting yourself in a place for that to be viable.

[@benjaminkushigian285]

People are making 100k, 250k/year playing poker. 1k is pretty small expense if you're playing at high enough stakes. But almost certainly not worth the money if this is more than like 10 buyins for you, or you don't put the volume in

[@DougPolkPoker]

I'd say our average advanced course probably sells about 1,000 courses. Bunch has done more than that. Some have done lower.

[@DougPolkPoker]

Btw if you play a lot of poker, you will for sure make money spending $999 to improve your game

[@ChadGPT-1.0]

@@DougPolkPoker Hey man I don’t doubt it. As a business owner myself I am very impressed that you can ask for this kind of money for a course. Love watching your trajectory and would even venture to go past impressed to saying I’m proud of all you are doing. Edit: Corrected a spelling mistake where I spelled “ask” as “aak”… guess you can say it was a pretty good flop.

[@tommyallen5761]

There's an interesting old video out there where Doug discusses the thought process of setting the course price at $1k. Essentially it came down to if they charged $100k then everyone would pirate/steal it instead of buying it, and if they charged $100 then they wouldn't be able to pay top players enough to take time to create top notch materials.

[@losyart]

Vs Aggro guy like you u sometimes just have to close your eyes and click call even on most scary boards but i probably would do it when u actually have it lol. Well played

[@eatyourvitamin]

Congrats on your recent cameo in Billions. You were great.

[@916Hernandez]

I really appreciate everything you have been doing lately to promote the heads up game. I’ve never played this format but really interested in it!

[@jimmymcgill5572]

Thank you for this in depth break down please make more like this

[@JelloJiggleMan]

can anyone explain why Q2 hh / dd / cc bet the flop at different frequencies ?? what posssible reason could there be to have a 0.002-0.004% difference on an all spade flop with the other suits ? it should be uniform...similarly on the turn, why would the Q2hh bet frequency be any different than Q2cc ? same thing on the river, there are slight differences as well...also for Kevin's check call frequencies on an all spade flop, why would the AhAd differ from AhAc or AdAc ? same for AsAx, they should all be uniform as well...what's the reason behind all of this ??

[@thomashenshallhydraxis]

So how I understand the solver.. the reason of different percentages is due to the flop cards. It’s the three spades that make the spades higher % to bet. But that’s a given because it’s a flush. But; that’s only how I understand his program; other then that, I was wondering same thing. Because:::every time; would be slightly small difference in math. Maybe solver is also guessing their hand in particular situations . So it’s giving small changes, it makes sense to computer. Like a human sees no real difference in 0.50 vs 0.025, but computer sees a mathematical calculation. And I’m just using easy small numbers for clarity..

[@JelloJiggleMan]

@@thomashenshallhydraxis bro obviously on an all spade flop, the %s would be different when you contain a spade in your hand...but when you DON'T contain a spade in your hand, why in the world would they be different ?? it shouldn't matter if you have C / D / H on an all spade flop should it ?? lol

[@Ammo1x]

it’s just tiny solver errors. there are actually no solved differences in these types of spots. when the solver runs, sometimes it makes tiny mistakes like that. with that being said, because the percentage differences are so low, you can just ignore them.

[@windy6455]

Big fan of the Core tiles 😮‍💨 “You guys are all geniuses” 😂 “Your bluffs can be bluffier” Always a big fan of the quotable material your videos produce man

[@benjaminkushigian285]

Re: 1/3 pot on the river: this is usually a theory mistake but there are very good exploitative reasons to do this. Many weaker players, especially at micros, play their hands very linearly. You can often narrow their ranges down to weak pairs, and if you have a slightly better hand you can eek out a bit of extra value. However a good player will destroy this strategy. Your strong hands want to go for huge value on river because this is their last chance to make money. Trying to induce a raise is less profitable than getting a call. This means that you will be adapting a polar strat with a larger size. Trying to add a smaller linear-but-capped size allows a good opponent to easily polarize around you. And again, even if they are raising you enough, it's still not going to be profitable enough to use a smaller size with your nutted combos, meaning you can't profitably adjust to their aggression. Thus, in theory, we check back middling/weak value IP on the river

[@RichardSchuldt]

Did you swap hands from Q-2 to K-2 somehow? Why were you solving with K-2 after the 2nd card… 10:25…

[@srki22]

KK with a spade is a call because, at the same time, you block some flushes with KXs and unblock bluffs: AX with an Ace of Spade), while AA with a spade does not unblock bluffs where the opponent just had the Ace of Spade.

[@kevinsalasberetta2039]

Great point

[@matthewwilliams1625]

I just saw your video questioning those who say correct poker cannot beat micro stakes. I recently started trying to build a bankroll from nothing on Global Poker, which is about all I can get in my state. Applying the concepts from your videos has been helpful to me even in an MTT micro forma. Stats for trying, not always succeeding, in playing good poker at micro stakes: 75 Tournaments played. Avg. Buy-in $1.15. 21 Cashes. 2 wins. Profit: $302.94

[@TsunamiSurfaceWash]

My goal is to become profitable enough in my cleaning business to move out closer to the lodge. Love this game, it’s a direct representation of sales/negotiating/people skills. Been watching you Doug for a few months now. Idk if you play WSOP anymore but I’m ThatsBIG!

[@WriteWordsMakeMagic]

If the small sizes is almost always a straight instead of a flush, doesn't that mean opponent can jam against the small size? What hands are you calling with vs a jam after you bet small?

[@Nthsey]

Love to see a new vid, Doug; Keep it up!

[@Pyongyang99]

Watching this analysis makes me realise how garbage I really am at poker 😭😂

[@vidteacher]

Thanks for the content and analysis Doug! Good luck in the next session…🍀

[@ontheroad789nice8]

Awesome i got the main point you where making. Now lets build and tweak my general strategy accordingly ❤

[@MACMAMI]

I'm by no means any GTO nerd, but I do agree with the way you play this hand as you can convincingly represent a flush or a straight draw on the flop, and also potentially gain equity with semi-bluff hands on turns and rivers. You've got to apply pressure and put opponents to the test on textures like that.

[@slowery43]

thank you so much for chiming in Mac, everyone is always on pins and needles hoping you would come here to share your thoughts on expert professionals as your opinion is the only one that matters here. It is you that brings everyone here with all your credibility... remind us again when your next book is coming out please.

[@MikeFixesThings]

Doug, it would be nice if you could make your mouse pointer bigger for these videos so is old guys can see it better

[@mattherzberg991]

Doug there were a few times against Daniel where you end up ripping all in with 2 pair on a 4 straight board on I believe a flush river after check/calling turn can you explain that play at some point? I don’t understand some of the GTO actions

[@snex000]

KK is better to call because it unblocks the dry ace bluff maybe?

[@DougieBarclay]

This unblocking logic means it's a better call for 73o nospade.

[@janpiet9921]

@@DougieBarclayExcept KK beats bluffs and 73o doesn't

[@janpiet9921]

@@DougieBarclay And also you never get to the river with that hand so you can't call it in the first place. You're just mad that other people think about what to call and you just blindly press either button...

[@DougieBarclay]

@@janpiet9921 you are right, I am very mad.

[@user-db1vc6zn3l]

No wonder you are the best heads up player ❤❤❤

[@outdoorloser4340]

Thank you Doug 👍

[@billyrobertson5213]

Can anyone explain the graph cause I’m mad confused some are highlighted some aren’t

[@erikhonsel2298]

Where can you even play deep stacked heads up like this nowadays?

[@Bibzuda7]

THANKS DOUG

[@Boss-Bot]

Fridays for nerding out.

[@martinpedersen2650]

Doug dont you think it could be profitable to make slightly sub optimal sizing to fuck with your oppononents preperation?

[@intrepidpro368]

What would be the EV for IP to overbet turn 1,5x/2x/3x ?

[@itsallking1641]

I just play 47o flop 356 unsuited and bet 1/3 pot, opponent snap mucks aces face up

[@Pokerfarhang]

I had a successful bluff, buy my course

[@chrisbien4456]

I'm very curious what the solver tells you to do with the q2 of hearts if the river came the queen of diamonds. Do you check with showdown value, or does it think you are behind for sure and still want you to bluff? Obviously you are not value betting with the pair of queens.

[@tommyallen5761]

I'd guess almost certainly checking back with rivered top pair

[@chrisbien4456]

@tommyallen5761 Maybe, but if I were playing that pot as Doug I would still think I was behind. So still bluffing the same amount seems reasonable.

[@jimmyjimmyggful]

Just curious, when is the match against Perrson supposed to happen?

[@OsefKincaid]

"I wonder if Kevin would prefer to have the ace of spades here" lol

[@stu_gahtz1740]

@DougPolkPoker are we ever going to get a discount on nick ps course it is years old now

[@joshuapatrick682]

So how are edges realized if everyone is just taking the lines the computer says is optimal?

[@Johnny-cz2wv]

ᵀᴴᴱᵞ ᴰᴼᴺ'ᵀ

[@cezarvancea]

Why is KQ with the King of spades a bigs size? I didn't get that. What are you blocking that would be more inclined to pay a small size? Can anyone explain?

[@jimduggan8382]

KQ with a spade blocks some of the big hands like flushes and a J with Ks that opponent will call a big bet with

[@janpiet9921]

It blocks some high flushes that might have trapped and maybe even more importantly, it blocks hero calls with a spade. He is much more likely to call KK with the king of spades than KK without the king of spades.

[@Bitojaz]

PS you are the only one I have shared this to

[@User32458]

I think i prefer the fold with AA than the 3 barrel bluff.

[@jimduggan8382]

odd comparison, but that's ok !

[@dudley5658]

Pocket AAs are my unluckiest hand. I’d fold them with a min raise pre flop.

[@oz1erol839]

If you do a video and compare the 10 high call from Stu Ungar with the Robbie call against Adelstein 🦅 i will subscribe and with me more for sure.

[@DeadMoneyDragon.]

SO did Kevin fold?

[@Daniel-ex2qs]

7:42 this is too high level

[@altortosa5955]

fascinating breakdown Doug, I would have not gone all in, as the opp could be slow playing a flush or a straight...I think... but I am here to leqrn!

[@slowery43]

no, you're hear to be passive aggressive letting everyone know what "you'd" do... no one cares what you might do you're not playing, you're never playing at these stakes, and you have zero credibility. If you were here to learn you would be listening not telling what you'd do that is what makes you passive-aggressive

[@altortosa5955]

@slowery43 sorry to hear that you are so bitter and sad, try to take some.time off and relax, maybe talk to someone about how you feel about yourself and your life. Good luck

[@ziddicous]

Could have kept control of the hand with the check raise. Then it’s a different scenario. Would love to see that as a part two of this video.

[@Bitojaz]

Doug I have new poker term for you I have never heard this referenced anywhere but if someone has please show me where when you have pocket refer to them as rocking chairs please credit me when you do Kevin Stanley

[@tphuynh85]

Been there

[@mikeashman9502]

Massive tell @3:52 in case you missed it Doug. You look at your cards and we see stress coming through on your lips followed by a stress swallow.

[@frenchdna3727]

I spotted the same thing. Knowing that top pros watch tape (there even was a reddit post about Doug's body language at some point) I'm sure Doug will try to be more mindful of that in the future. It ties up with Dnegs saying after winning the High Stakes Duel 4 Round 2 something along the lines of "let just say if we had done our bet live instead of online, things would have been different"

[@mikeashman9502]

@@frenchdna3727 For sure Dnegs has a massive live read advantage. You wouldn't happen to have a link to that reddit thread would you? I can't find it.

[@eshneto]

These charts are wrong. Where are the suited pairs?

[@ryanemerson7]

Can somebody wake me up when we get to the river analysis? 😴

[@joelker41]

Totally honest question for Doug. If you're reading from a solver/spreadhseet why would someone want to pay you to do that course wise? Does the course actually give you access to the solver?

[@woodysmith2681]

Callback to Doug's online habit of yodeling "Fold" into his microphone.

[@markl8893]

Can we get some drama vids? jokes? Fun? you could even call it Polker news or something to be cool. Get it?

[@Tuturial464]

Like the time you folded aces against a bluff

[@user-je6xu9em8f]

Dam Doug got better at coaching

[@luckymaggie6594]

12.30 important

[@brettlawton9513]

I'd love to get paid to sit and read a book on the couch Lmfaooo

[@sonicboomers122]

Classic FOLD

[@user-yw3wo5dv5k]

This makes poker fun you know like ironing a shirt.

[@thebeasters]

That interior design is all dude

[@nicksmith2194]

More nerdy stuff, please!

[@iro9486]

Are you just completely out of retirement at this point? I haven't been keeping up clearly.

[@knip7095]

definitely how hank made you fold

[@Procastinatestoomuch]

Maybe Kevin 3b small to get you to call with speculative hands. He gets you playing wider, because you're getting a better price. You of all players have a higher possibility to turn extra hands into bluffs.

[@Havefunatwork]

If i can make aces fold i can make anything fold. I don't need the course

[@Kyle-fo7li]

Folding aces to Doug Polk in a heads up match should be a crime

[@deniseglavaris2079]

Poker coaching

[@mrsalt548]

if u not playing 5k and final table all the time this course is not for you , you will loose more than now when u play vs donks in 5 $ tourneys

[@weetabicks1]

Nerd!

[@chexnfx7161]

Don’t need all that solver crap for this hand lol

[@rudenurse2561]

👽👍🏾

[@steveharding8965]

Doug can't do math haha.

[@Zoggyboyzimmy]

He has 1 pair most of the time you can just bet 40% river and he still folds aces lol

[@jonathansykes4986]

Welcome back!

[@aakai0074]

Scare money

[@Dddddeeeeee]

Whys there a random woman reading in the back?

[@RuitpootBuizerd]

She's the host. For a HU match, for a large part it means se has nothing to do, so reads a book 🙂

[@user-je6xu9em8f]

It is never correct idc what people say about tournament cashes Edit- thought this was a fold pre flop😂. I was like wow this A I. solver is next level if that is EVER correct pre flop lol😂

[@Seaton1518]

This is some nerdy shitt and most of it is useless. Especially where he says that the solver says 1/3 pot bet calculates to a 5,134 EV, 2/3 = 5,237 EV, and full pot = 5,344 EV 🤓 useless! just play poker and quit lookin for a solver to help you.

[@theowl3756]

All the Solver suggestions are based on the predictability of ranges for your opponents as well as the predictability of how they play a hand. If you are playing against a computer, Solver is a great tool. But playing against people with a wide range of knowledge, temperament, and experiences, Solver is useless.

[@srki22]

It is not useless, if you play against solver, you will always lose, no matter what your range is.

[@matthewwestcott9138]

Saying it's useless is ridiculous. It gives you a base line from which to deviate. If you're playing fish, sure, it's not that useful. But if you understand the principles the solver uses, you can apply them exploitatively to weaker opponents.

[@juiceman6227]

Hey Doug, Bens gone!!! Time to come back to crypto!!!

[@MrJoosebawkz]

ngl if my opponent in a heads up match 4bet K2 suited off vs me I’d leave the table and probably get the dealer fired while I’m at it.

[@DanielAlkarin]

This guy just tries to make a read sound so sciency and nerdy. This is why Dwan is a much much better player 🤣

[@Alexandertygreat]

Lol these solver slaves follow exactly what the masses do as well, bet up with buff and bet down for value. Aces should be a snap call here when getting over bet and its hilarious that DP says the exact same thing. I wonder if his opponent bothered watching any of DP hand break down. He seems to only rely on varied 1/4 i call blah blah blah for calls only and zero thought when bluffing. Quite literally bluffs 100% of spots at bottom of range. If you just do the math like all solver slaves, this spot is so badly over bluffed it is insane, bluff to nuts ratios is prob 10 to 1. Calling is printing money, let DP print that EV til he is broke.

[@davidcampbell8599]

I'm sorry this kind of over analysis ridiculous.

[@JDE1983]

I would not keep that up, against players with a real bank roll.

[@jonathansykes4986]

Poker is hard 😞

[@ifeelhalfnaked484]

Why we need this shit when we installed Mike postle software chip into our mind?

[@ViralReality.]

I posted a video of proof that PokerStars cheats !

[@ilarivaisanen]

rigged!

[@losyart]

LOL