AQo

So i'm playing a lot of 6-Max 2NL, (as in .02) and i'm trying to play tight, i'm coming in around 17/15 and slowly building.

I seem to have a complete blank when it comes to AQo.
A recent hand had a reg with 17/16 raise 3XBB from UTG. MP folds, and i'm in the cutoff.

Now i dont want to throw away AQ necessarily, although i'm more inclined to against a reg with those stats, his range from UTG could include AQ AJ but its pushing it, he could have PP of course.
There are 2 parts to my question.

1) Should i really just fold here against this guy with 3 more to act.

2) If i'm not folding, should i be 3 betting, I know AQ is light here for a 3bet, but arent we supposed to be keeping VPIP and PFR tight together, a call here is a bit weak huh?(and may invite everyone else into the pot of course)

Just looking for opinions really.

Even if you assume he's opening less than his overall 17 from UTG, AQ is still ahead of his range unless he's down around 10. At 2nl, he's not likely to be very far below 17 because most people don't change their opening ranges much according to position. Of course, this assumes you haven't seen anything to suggest he's an exception.

So 3-betting here when you're ahead of his range and have position, certainly isn't bad. It's just outside your easy comfort zone. Part of improving is training yourself to make better decisions even when they cause you some uneasiness.

One consideration here is how loose the players still to act are. One of the reasons for 3-betting is to iso the opener. Also, while it's not very likely at this level, I wouldn't forget that if you just call, you not only invite more calls but also set yourself up to be squeezed.

Last year, a survey of online pro's asked what they considered to be the toughest hand to play online. The majority pumped for....... AQ.

In the micros, the raise could mean he has 2s3s or AA. Personally, I would 3bet with AQ as I agree with Arjonius that you will often be ahead of his range here.

Dont focus too much on stats. The table dynamic and your own table image and your opponents can dictate how tight/loose you play. To try and stick to a rigid framework of stats is folly until you have a suitable sample. Use opponents stats against them and let them worry about your stats.

Arjonius said:

Even if you assume he's opening less than his overall 17 from UTG, AQ is still ahead of his range unless he's down around 10. At 2nl, he's not likely to be very far below 17 because most people don't change their opening ranges much according to position. Of course, this assumes you haven't seen anything to suggest he's an exception.

So 3-betting here when you're ahead of his range and have position, certainly isn't bad. It's just outside your easy comfort zone. Part of improving is training yourself to make better decisions even when they cause you some uneasiness.

One consideration here is how loose the players still to act are. One of the reasons for 3-betting is to iso the opener. Also, while it's not very likely at this level, I wouldn't forget that if you just call, you not only invite more calls but also set yourself up to be squeezed.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, youre absolutley spot on about comfort zones, part of the reason i used to be a failure at cash (amongst being too loose), was that i would get bullied easily, or be too afraid to bet the right amount, for fear of people shoving or reraising. I realise of course that this is silly, odds and maths should dictate my play at this limit, and if i get reraised, then it tells me i'm beat (of course may be a bluff, but i cant do much about that without history and a solid read).

I am learning to be braver..

You can't be afraid if you are it's the wrong game for you. I was afraid and it los tme a ton of money. YYou need to play the hands you're supposed to play in the positions you're supposed to play them

3betting is better unless you are facing a REALLY tight open raiseer, especially if you are not often 3betting light. Even if he has a hand like TT or JJ, he will likely fold to a c bet if there are any overcards. If he 4bets then consider folding.

Calling or 3-betting are both fine in this spot. If you have been running good over the past few orbits, and have been raising more frequently then I would lean towards a call. If you have been folding more preflop, either because of bad cards, or just not being able to find any good spots, I would lean towards a raise. Folding is not an option imo.

Playing AQ out of position is very dangerous...obviously if you dont hit the flop you have no idea of where you are in the hand.
In your scenario you ARE in position. I would say as long as the opponent isnt super-tight and you aren't ridiculously low on chips I would call it and see a flop.

some history here would be good , what has villain showed down previously from this position. also depends on relative stack size , short stack shove , medium stack 3bet/mostly fold to 4bet, big stack mostly call/3bet occasionaly .
like everyone said above youll be infront alot of the time(especialy at those stakes) , from stats looks like villain is tight but hardly a rock.