$25 NLHE 6-max: Playing AK as 3bet vs 4bet

N

noahband

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Hi All,
How do you usually play AKs/AKo against 4bets? I've heard people say flatting is bad because if you miss the flop you're in horrible shape, but it seems like it's pretty hard to get called by worse if you shove - flipping vs lower pocket pairs and a dog to AA/KK. Here opponent had KK and I got lucky, but I'm curious - what do you guys think the optimal line here is?
Winning Poker Network (Yatahay) - $0.25 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players


SB: 21.72 BB (VPIP: 37.26, PFR: 11.64, 3Bet Preflop: 7.72, hands: 1,546)
BB: 50 BB
UTG: 119.68 BB (VPIP: 28.57, PFR: 24.49, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 50)
MP: 43 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
CO: 43.64 BB (VPIP: 31.25, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 49)
Hero (BTN): 83.96 BB

SB posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has A K

UTG raises to 3 BB, fold, CO calls 3 BB, Hero raises to 12 BB, fold, fold, UTG raises to 26 BB, fold, Hero raises to 83.96 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 57.96 BB

Flop: (172.32 BB, 2 players) 4 J A

Turn: (172.32 BB, 2 players) J

River: (172.32 BB, 2 players) 5
 
Hujiko

Hujiko

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For me it depends on several factors if I call/fold/5bet a 4 bet or 5 bet with AK.
1) Type of opponent or the average opponent when I dont have many hands.
Is my opponent 4 betting a lot then I more likely to 5 bet AK.
2) OOP vs IP
If I am OOP I am more likely to 5 bet AK. E.g. in SB vs BB I would 5 bet AK a ton from the SB.
3) Positions
When one of the players is UTG (EP) then the ranges become tighter and I would not 5 bet AK.

Villain is 4 betting against two opponents as CO is still in the hand also which makes that his range looks very strong, still I would find it difficult to let this hand go. Would certainly not 5 bet but would call as I am IP and also because I don't think that you have a lot of fold equity.
 
Last edited:
TenJack

TenJack

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AKo is something i am comfortable letting go of vs a 4-bet from a tight player. In this spot, with villains vpip of 28, pfr of 24, he is very loos aggressive, He is 3-betting a lot, i think we can expect him to have some things in his 4-bet range that we might be ahead of.

Also, we are playing below 100 BB. This is not a good thing, we want to always be at 100 or more. Stack sizes play very heavily into this decision.
 
Q

QA77

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I can fold to a 4bet or shove. I rarely call in that spot unless its crazy deep which it usually isn’t. It really depends on the opponent and if they are capable of 4betting light. Some never 4bet bluff so you can fold to that unless they’re capable of folding a big pair to a 5bet.
 
TheBigFinn

TheBigFinn

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Like all things Poker, it depends. In this case with a loose villain, I'm OK with 5-bet shove. The problem with calling is the stack to pot ratio. If hero just calls, the pot is 66 and hero has 70 behind. If Villain then raise 1/2 pot to any flop, what doe Hero do if he missed? This is one on those times when, IMHO, folding is the second best choice to the push.
 
c9h13no3

c9h13no3

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This is fine, but you could make an argument for flat calling preflop (instead of 3-betting). It disguises your hand, plants a squeeze trap, and your opponent is very strong raising UTG.

But since you're short, and your opponent likes to get frisky preflop, just go ahead and 3-bet/jam.

Calling the 4bet is bad.
 
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cs_rlewis

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For me I always 3bet AK. If I get 4bet the situation depends on stack sizes weather I continue. One thing I never do is flat. Sometimes I fold AK to a 4bet.
If I raise first in and get 3bet, I also 4bet 100% usually. If I get 5bet or jammed on I usually call off because it doesn't really make sense to 4bet and then fold.
 
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777alex777

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normal push against agro-player, no need to be afraid to get into KK+
 
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