There is a raise to 20 preflop and I flat with AK off in small blind

Home Forums Share Your Hand No Limit Holdem 1-2 \ 1-3 There is a raise to 20 preflop and I flat with AK off in small blind

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  • #4231
    Ethan
    Participant

    I feel like I played this wrong.

    Tight, aggressive player who had been only going into pots by raising. But he was opening very very few pots. So when he opens in middle position for 20 and it folds around to me in the small blind and I look down at AK offsuit. I put his range on AQ – AK, and tens plus. So I just call the 20 with my AK and look to hit a flop. The flop comes out A, Q, 6 two hearts. I’m first to act and I fire for 25. He folds. Did I play this incorrectly this hand was bothering me for some time.

    #4233
    David Wibel
    Participant

    Short answer, yes this is a misplay.

    I also disagree with how you are classifying this villian. I would put this one in the Nit type. The specific rang you gave is like the top 5% of hands. Thus with a hand like AK while you are behind most of his range, if you hit it is unlikely that you get paid on later streets.

    If the is that tight then if an A or K comes then he wont call with QQ, JJ, TT and you chop against AK, you only get value from AQ.

    #4234
    Patrick Brennan
    Participant

    Hey Ethan!

    It’s a bit of a misplay I think but not a terrible one. First, even a tight aggressive player is capable of opening in MP with AJ/A10s/KQs and mid pocket pairs. Also, if he hasn’t played many hands it is possible even a tight player gets bored if they’ve been card dead for awhile and might often open light. Being in MP it isn’t a stretch to think the player might be opening light. I think the biggest mistake was not 3 betting pre-flop from the SB. You leave the BB an opportunity to come in to the pot by not raising because now you’re giving him better pot odds to call with a midrange hand. A 3 bet gives you the opportunity to win the pot right away and you get more information from the other player by them calling or 4 betting. It’s likely your opponent had 88-JJ here based on the quick fold and figured you must have an A or Q in your hand if you called out of position so you made their decision easy. When flatting pre-flop in spots like this I like to check to the pre-flop aggressor to try and get a C- bet out of them when I have a hand as strong as top/top.

    Also, if you 3 bet pre and he folds if you wake up with AA or KK the next time he opens he might think you’re bullying him and make an ill advised 4 bet in your favor…

    Overall it’s a misplay because it’s not the most profitable line to take but it’s a line that is not likely to get you in much trouble unless your opponent flips trips or 2 pair… in those instances you might lose a lot of money with this line.

    Cheers!

    #4237
    Ethan
    Participant

    Ya thanks Patrick. Your right. A three bet there is optimal and he is capable of opening worse aces and kings. I probable should have three bet to 70 there. And value bet my hand from the glop if I hit. If I don’t hit however, do you think I should just make one cbet stab on the flop and then shut down if I get called because if I check and he bets I have to fold right?

    Thanks so much!

    #4238
    Patrick Brennan
    Participant

    You’re definitely c betting depending on texture of flop. A lot of times your A high will be good and your opponent will bow out. I’m seeing a turn for almost any price besides the max.

    #4241
    Ethan
    Participant

    Wow you’re seeing a turn there for almost any price! Couldn’t the villian call a 3 bet with pocket 8s-Js and value cbet the flop?

    #4242
    Patrick Brennan
    Participant

    Yes but your call out of position represents pocket pairs as well and showing strength like check raising or flatting and betting the turn as a bluff could get those hands to fold… especially if a scare card comes up. And if your opponent isn’t believing you or has smashed the board…. he’ll make it obvious with a raise. Regardless, if I flat there I’m checking regardless of if I hit or not HU. If he’s tight aggressive he’s capable of c betting as a bluff (esp. If he’s a little nitty). I’m calling the flop when I hit and betting the turn or calling/check raising if I miss depending on my read. Flatting with AK here and leading out when you hit only gets calls from weaker Aces or hands that have you beat. By checking you give your opponent an opportunity to put money in the middle when he’s behind. You need to go for max value or else long term you’ll only win small pots and lose big ones. With this line you’ll win more money when you’re ahead to make up for the larger losses when you get out flopped.

    #4250
    Ethan
    Participant

    Ya I was worried he had a draw of some sort and I would let him hit. However there are way more worse hands he could have had to make a bet (kj, j10) with as opose to call a bet with. My mistake. I should have checked to him and that way it would also allow me to get value from a queen on the turn and river if he had one. Thanks for the advice as always greatly appreciated!

    • This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Ethan.
    • This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Ethan.
    #4259
    DeeKay
    Participant

    Ethan,
    I’m going to disagree a little bit with what was being discussed. I don’t hate the call in this situation. The reason is because you had him on such a tight range, 3-betting would be a mistake. You want to 3-bet to either take the pot down or build a pot for when you flop an Ace or King. But if you have him on such a tight range, than 3-betting will only open you up for a 4-bet. Now we can argue about whether you have him on too tight a range, but I think the general assumption is that he is only likely playing premium hands and only raising. So when the flop hit you… you have to consider how many streets of value you are going to get from an under weaker pair or weaker Ace. I’m going to say that you probably only have max 2 streets of value. I think only A-Q gives you 3 streets of value. Any other ace is probably 2 streets, and a smaller pair is probably only 1 street of value. Therefore, I would have checked the flop in hopes he takes a stab. If not I would have bet hard value for the turn. Maybe $15 into the $40 pot. Just my opinion

    #4263
    Patrick Brennan
    Participant

    Hey Deekay… I don’t disagree with you and I think we’re saying almost the same thing. The only reason I like the 3 bet is because he’s out of position and I think he’s being too cautious in assuming the opponent’s opening range is so narrow. Also, I’m not that afraid of a 4 bet when holding AK considering at worst I’m flipping against any holding with the obvious exception of AA and KK. A 3 bet builds a bigger pot and allows us to win pre-flop enough times that it is profitable. I’m not upset when my opponent open/folds or open/calls and I get more information if my opponent open/4 bets. I don’t hate the flat he made pre-flop I just think 3 betting is more profitable.

    Now, I agree with you that when he flats and hits the flop he needs to check. It gives our opponent an opportunity to bet and if he checks back I’m probably betting under half pot on the turn. By leading the flop he loses value from all weaker hands except maybe AJ.

    #4266
    Ethan
    Participant

    I agree with you in the sense that I did not want to face a 4bet from a guy who would only be four betting with queens, kings, or aces. (I don’t even know what I would do facing a four bet, would I fold??) And I agree I should have checked it to him on the flop. However if he bets and I call to I check it to him on the turn aswell?

    #4267
    Ethan
    Participant

    Yes you are correct and I agree with checking the flop when i hit, however I was wondering if I check and he bets flop do I continue checking it to him on the turn?

    Thanks!

    #4269
    DeeKay
    Participant

    No… you bet the turn. Value all the way. Again, if we think we are talking about just 2 streets of value… then we are betting the turn with a value he can’t refuse. He’ll fold with nothing and come along with a weaker ace. Same for the river… if you don’t get your 2nd street of value, than you maxed with your one street of value.

    #4273
    Ethan
    Participant

    Okay thanks, so since he raised to 20 pre and I called out of position I should check it to him on that flop, when he bets I should call. Then confirming I should lead turn and river for value? That’s three streets of value.

    #4275
    Ethan
    Participant

    If I check call the flop and then bet turn wouldn’t the turn be my second street of value and the river my third?

    I’m just trying to make sure we are on the same page. Do you think that and should check call flop, lead turn and if he calls lead river?
    If so I think that makes sense but I’m just trying to make sure I am understanding correctly.

    Thanks so much for your help Deekay! I really appreciate it!

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