Ace Queen under the gun

I'm curious how do you play this. I get dealt ace queen suited under the gun, and I raise 3xbb to 3600 I get two callers. Flop comes [2c 3d 6s] I bet out 5,000 into a pot of 12,570. I scare one guy away. The guy in the big blind calls, and then Ace hits the board. He makes a big bet and I don't have a good read on him. So I assume that's when you gotta let it go. However, I didn't. I thought I read someone say this is a fold under the gun. Better just to limp in see a flop then get out? Always see it run into A-K pretty often which is what happened.

Yes AQ is playable UTG and 3xbb is just about right IMO. Were you out of position vs 2 callers? I would have delayed my CB. If both opps checked I probaly would have fired off a 1/2pot bet on the turn. If I still got one caller then I check call the river provided the bet isn't too large. I pick alot of riverbluffs off this way. As far as the AK goes, that's just the way it goes sometimes.

As always, it depends.

Size of the table, playing level of the opponents. In full ring I'm folding it these days but raising in 6 max and in tournaments it depends on stack sizes, table size, bubble.

But if I've got two callers I'm not inclined to bet a missed flop, though this one is pretty dry, and again it depends on the opponents style and stack sizes.

I probably would have called, since there were more hands I could beat than hands that could beat me. He might very well have put me on a pocket pair and now thinks he has me beat with ace anything. Plus I'd still have position on him if the river card was a queen. He'd probably bet and I could raise.

I can't bring myself to fold AQ in an unraised pot in any situation. I think its foldable in full ring but it's definitely playable. It should be profitable from any position. Don't limp with it - raise if you plan to play. Even though AQ works well multi-way, you want to start building larger pots now and have people pay to see the flop.

And the fact that you ran into AK? Well that can happen from any position. Just try to cut your losses and lose less against AK than you can win from AJ.

Yikes..AQ = trouble here. How to play it? Very much depends

I like the idea of the 3 x BB raise and then check folding into a multi-way pot if you didnt hit on the flop.

Is this a cash game? Depends in a tough table I'll fold it, for the most part I'll play though either raising or limping mostly raising. After two callers though on that type of flop, if I believe they are reasonable players, I wouldn't lead out for almost half the pot. If they seem timid and fold a lot I might do it and hope to steal but for the most part I'll check and hope to get a free card.

Do you have any stats from this player?? Or where do you put him on?? He might have A2 or A3 or he has A10+ I think..

ace queen suited is always playable under the gun, if u get reraised you can always fold and if someone pushes all in when the ace hits its probably a good idea to fold bc more than likely its two pair or ace king.

I probably would have raised before the flop and bet out on the flop, but when the other player called on the flop and bet big on the turn, I would have to assume I was beat by maybe a set or AK. So, I think a fold on the turn would be the best play.

ya i would 3x bb and continuation bet it

How big is the buy in?? If its small or micro then its quite possible that someone has 2 pair or better. Hard decision, but it was avoidable. First, you raised UTG with AQs 3xbb, its standard, mabye 2,5xbb, but it doesnt make any difference here. flop comes all small cards. Now thats a decision. Do you want to cbet against 2 players OOP??? What if u get called and turn is a blank?? Whats your stack size?? I'd personally check or shove here on the flop, cbet only if i have big stack. Well on the turn its probably fold, because he often has set here, rarely bluffs and sometimes he has that other ace with decent kicker.

I would agree with the opening bet of 3BB. If yu open withless you allow others into the hand cheaply. As for the guy you are up against if you assume he has a hand which was good enough to call you them I would put him on A with a J, Q or K, probably J or Q, or elso a pocket pairs. He could have tripped his pairs or he could be thinking you had pocket pairs and he has you beat with his top pair. Tough one and a lot depends on how much you know about how theother player plays the game.

with a couple raises and a bunch of callers it is hard to play. i would only play it in this situation if they are suited. when it is only a few people in the pot with you and no raises, it is fine to play

I tend to play only AQs UTG (FR cash game)

Its a pretty good hand, but you will be OOP against all but the blinds.

Position is so critical, I think most players underestimate it.

Just look in PT or HEM and sort your winning by position. AQ UTG will show less of a return than AQ on the button.

I could be convinced to fold or play it UTG. If I played it, I would be inclined to bet more than 3x because of position. After the flop, you can certainly make a case for the continuation bet. Certainly wouldn't look like it improved anybody's hand....but checking isn't wrong either.

If you're not going to play AQ utg, what will you play in that position? AK? TT or better? That's pretty tight, and pretty exploitable too. Just raise and take stock in who calls you. Vs one player, I'm pretty much CBing this 100% of the time. If you get a call, check to the river and call a smallish bet. You'd be surprised how many bluffs you pick of.

Four Dogs said:

If you're not going to play AQ utg, what will you play in that position? AK? TT or better? That's pretty tight, and pretty exploitable too. Just raise and take stock in who calls you. Vs one player, I'm pretty much CBing this 100% of the time. If you get a call, check to the river and call a smallish bet. You'd be surprised how many bluffs you pick of.

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Its not the overall strength of the cards, its the position.

Look at your AA stats in PT / HEM

Do you earn more in position or OOP with AA?

I dont like to play cards from EP that could be dominated. So, Im folding AQo and AQs.

AQ just my personal belive FOLD IT FROM ANY AN HOW POSTIONS.The hand hates me an i hate it back i went backed an looked some time ago i lost with it 23 times in a row.I mean realy played it every which of way raise limp raise limp limp call.My winning % with aqos was 32% from all postions an aqs was 29% over small sample like 20k or so.But in the end if i was anybody but me playing this hand i would raise utg with it.
ME O AQ I HAVE IT ON AUTO FOLD NOW FROM ALL POSTIONS.

LMFAO...some hands just dont like certain people.....but seriously..UTG i will raise preflop with aq if the table is tight and if its loose i will prolly raise also unless the table has aggressive preflop players that will raise with any marginal late position hand so that i can reraise and isolate with that hand

yeah that is quite a tricky situation.
I usually play AQs, but AQo can be a tough call. In your case, I think you made a good decision on the call considering the Ace came up, as AK was the only likely beat... tough beat, better luck next time.

Yes AQ in tournament is the devil.....fold it and weep.

AQ in a tournament is still a great hand...don't just fold it, you just have to play it in the right situations. Great for bubble play, and its an easy hand to get away from if someone else is extremely aggressive.