What's the best defense against the continuation bet?

Weak players of course probably don't think about that question and will immedietly fold if they don't hit the flop. But what is the best defense against a possible continuation bet? For example, earlier today I was in the middle of a tournament, one off the button with AQ offsuit. An aggressive player in MP raised 3x the big blind and I call. The flop comes Jack Jack 8 all different suits. He bets about 2/3 of the pot. His most likely holding is ace - small or KQ. I didn't really know exactly where I was stood so I decided to fold. What's the right play here with AQ? Fold, Call, or raise?

It would be good for you to post blinds and stack sizes to get a good reply to this. But I usually reraise or fold AQ, I dont like flat calling b/c you dont know where u stand. Your in position in this hand so its not too bad, but against an aggressive player I probably reraise preflop. This avoids some more tough decisions postflop.

Everyone had stacks of around 1400-1600. The blinds were I believe 40/80.

Take it down PF in that hand.
Generally, a light raise can win you a pot if you suspect your c-betting opponent didn't hit the flop.

I would have to say the 2/3 pot bet was a feeler bet. It's not likely that he has a Jack. Since you have AQ, there are fewer chances that he has either of those cards. So maybe he has middle pair, big ace (AK would be bad for u), maybe he hit the 8. Knowing the player's betting patterns would be very useful. Since you're in position, I would say you have to at least call.

depending on the way the person plays(if you know if they're aggressive or not ) you should reraise if you think they are bluffing , ecspecially if you have some money invested..... they might reraise you with A high and go all in but then again it depends what level you are playing........

You need to have a read on your oppobebt, and trust it. I agree that you have 2 options- reraise or fold. That's where your read on the villain comes in. A flat call in this spot gains you nothing, just prolongs the agony. What will you do on 4th street when/if you don't hit and he bets again?

1. Reraise it PF and take it down there (if you can). Or at least get some more information on the strength of your opponents hand.

2. Depending on how loose your opponent is and the range of hands he could raise with, this is a perfect opprotunity to float. His C-bet of 2/3 the pot size is a bit big if he is holding a jack because he is losing value for his hand if you fold. Its possible he could be holding A8 or mid pair like 99. You wouldnt want to reraise at this point because there is the chance of you be reraised* and you'll have to fold. So, just call the bet. If your opponent bets on the turn, give him credit for a hand-not necessarily the J-and fold. If he checks the turn and the river, make a (value) bet of about 1/4 the pot on the river to represent the Jack. Fold to any reraise.

*If you do reraise here and they 3-bet, the yeti theorem comes into play. Which is 'A 3 bet on a paired board is almost always a bluff.' The reason being is because they lose value if they have trips or a boat if they 3 bet you. And if they have less, like mid pair, its very hard for them to call a reraise, let alone 3-bet. However, considering your stack sizes compared to the blinds, you'll be risking a large percentage of your chips with a reraise (if you have to fold). So, I think floating would be the safer route to take because you dont risk as much, but can lay it down as easily.

Great reply, philthy, though i would not be so sure about yeti theorem here. If hero reraises the flop I would see him as pot commited and could easily make the final raise if holding a jack.

EDIT: from the position of villain i would see hero holding a pocket pair and if he's left with some 400 in chips i would expect him to make a bad call after so much action. I would even expect hero to call more often this 3-bet than a push after the turn when the only river card is left to come and the odds become worse if he did not improve yet (i would assume he's holding a pair, or a J good kicker, not A-Q) or it's my worst nightmare if hero hit the boat.

You're right. I wasnt paying attention to overall stack size, so any significant raise would put the hero practically all in.

If he has been real aggressive, and knows how to bet, and only bet 2/3 the pot, he wants action.

There sure is a lot of good advice hear. In my opinion as Ace Queen is the nineth best starting hand in holdem I tend to bet it hard preflop or fold. Played wrong it's a death hand.

Wow...i see some really great advice here. This thread itself makes me glad that I joined CC.

Anyway, after the flop, I agree, I don't think that you can put the villian on ANY "J"...but, could be any of the mentioned hands, KQ, Ax, A8suited, or some midpair.

Too many variables here to be sure, but if you have a good read, you need to go with it. A simple call will gain you information on the turn and river, and maybe you can buy it on the end, if it is checked down.

If you don't have the nerve or ability to ride it the distance, the fold is the best move.

I do want to throw in that a reraise preflop would have told you a lot more and maybe could have won the pot uncontested.

IMHO