€50 NLHE 6-max: Should I just give up on this?

iPoker - €0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 29.65, PFR: 20.39, 3Bet Preflop: 7.10, hands: 1,698)
BTN: 146.54 BB (VPIP: 27.33, PFR: 22.20, 3Bet Preflop: 8.13, Hands: 8,073)
Hero (SB): 130.22 BB
BB: 133.38 BB (VPIP: 21.94, PFR: 16.94, 3Bet Preflop: 5.47, Hands: 6,515)
UTG: 253.1 BB (VPIP: 46.88, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 65)
MP: 27 BB (VPIP: 65.63, PFR: 14.74, 3Bet Preflop: 3.92, Hands: 103)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K:heart: A:diamond:

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, BTN raises to 8 BB, Hero raises to 26 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 18 BB

Flop: (54 BB, 2 players) Q:spade: J:spade: 7:diamond:
Hero ?

Really don't have a good feeling here and a bet/fold just doesn't seem right to me given how big the pot is. But then again from my experience such a large raise is not usually called by QQ. It's AK or slow played AA/KK.

So should I really bet here to make AK fold and how much?

1) You should really consider calling preflop. It keeps the fish in, and with a raise that large his range is usually pretty strong. Taking 27 BB's from the any-two fish is going to be much easier than taking money from the TAG.

2) We likely have 7ish outs to the best hand, but very little fold equity. And when we hit those outs, it's unlikely for us to get paid. So I think it's a fine time to semi-bluff and c-bet that board for ~40% pot. A general rule is to semi-bluff your bad draws, and keep the other player in with your nut/clean draws. That rule obviously has a lot of exceptions, but it applies here. You could check/fold or check/shove if you think he's got some AJ/KQ in his range. But I'd just cbet to get TT/99/AK and then shut down.

I had two scenerios today with Aks with similar scenario. Generally I either want 2 of the same suit on the flop or an A or K and i'm betting in aim to be pot commited.

As played bad board for us.

Folded first one.

Then thought what if I play it? well I ran into QQ... So it's simple just let it go with a dangerous board like this.

............

C9 is right calling pre is fine and we keep our opponent dominated.

Aces2w1n said:

I had two scenerios today with Aks with similar scenario. Generally I either want 2 of the same suit on the flop or an A or K and i'm betting in aim to be pot commited.

As played bad board for us.

Folded first one.

Then thought what if I play it? well I ran into QQ... So it's simple just let it go with a dangerous board like this.

............

C9 is right calling pre is fine and we keep our opponent dominated.

Click to expand...

I am going to assume villain is a semi solid reg and probably defends hands like KQ, AQ, maybe even AJ in button vs blind 3bet spots while he has position so raising for value is fine since it does keep dominated hands in. As played, I don't mind check giving up on this flop. I would for sure be cbetting if I had an A of spades since that gives him less bluff combos to jam flop with and gives you back door outs to keep barreling on.