Flatting AK/AQ

O

Onkorunkus

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Total posts
104
Chips
0
Ok, so I play a lot of micro tournaments, and one thing I've noticed is that almost everyone calls any 3bet if they have opened. Rarely will you see someone 4bet or fold. This is great with AA/KK/QQ, because you can get Value easily. But when holding AK/AQ, I have started to just flat preflop raises. If I make TPTK or better, those kind of players will often give me all their chips with weaker pairs/kickers anyway, and if I don't, I don't have a big amount of chips in the pot with Ace High. What do you think about that?
 
Hellvor

Hellvor

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Total posts
24
Chips
0
While holding AK/AQ I prefer to raise it up and get as many people out of the pot as I can, if possible. AK/AQ really shines when in HU or against 2. If 4 or more people are in the pot, chances of someone making a good hand with weaker cards is a lot higher.
 
P

Peak92

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Total posts
33
Chips
0
AK/AQ doesn't do well i multi-way pots, so I prefer to always raise those hands rather that flating. Still you gonna take most pots after c-bet on dry flop, since you're PF aressor, and if you hit TPTK you still might get one or two streets of value
 
O

Onkorunkus

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Total posts
104
Chips
0
The thing is though, even when you do 3bet, you will often get multiple callers behind. They don't look at the action before them, they just think "I haz J10. I needz call". So why put a lot of chips at stake when the number of people in the pot won't change anyways?
 
A

AckLakCak3

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Total posts
61
Chips
0
The thing is though, even when you do 3bet, you will often get multiple callers behind. They don't look at the action before them, they just think "I haz J10. I needz call". So why put a lot of chips at stake when the number of people in the pot won't change anyways?

If you are scared to try and take control of the action, step away from the table.

The correct play is for you to raise PF to TRY and isolate yourself against a single opponent. In the event that this is unsuccessful, make a smart decision post flop and move on to the next hand. It's not like you are talking about putting your tournament life at risk PF with the hand, and the investment lost is minimal if you have to part with the hand.
 
TimovieMan

TimovieMan

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 16, 2016
Total posts
2,264
Chips
0
The thing is though, even when you do 3bet, you will often get multiple callers behind. They don't look at the action before them, they just think "I haz J10. I needz call". So why put a lot of chips at stake when the number of people in the pot won't change anyways?
In that case it becomes a value-bet. You still have a better hand than they do, you know.
Just don't get married to it post-flop.
 
Hellvor

Hellvor

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Total posts
24
Chips
0
The thing is though, even when you do 3bet, you will often get multiple callers behind. They don't look at the action before them, they just think "I haz J10. I needz call". So why put a lot of chips at stake when the number of people in the pot won't change anyways?

If you don't want to risk chips with AK/AQ, what will you risk them with? AA only?

Raise and raise again. Yes, you will lose a few times, I couldn't count how many times I've lost with AK and it is infuriating when it's an important hand, but statistically speaking you will profit in the long term.
 
O

Onkorunkus

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Total posts
104
Chips
0
No, you're getting me wrong. I am definitely willing to risk chips with AK. If my stack size allows it, I'm reshoving all day everyday. But when I have 50BB, 3bet to 9BB and get three callers, I have just over a pot sized bet left left to play a flop I miss 1/3 of the time. I am aware that I am a favorite pre, and that's why I'm almost always happy to get it in with AK. But when I am fairly deep, why not see a flop with a decent SPR and not dump 1/5th of my chips? Also, this does certainly not apply to every table especially when you go to low/mid limits but I think can be a good play in certain spots.
 
Hellvor

Hellvor

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Total posts
24
Chips
0
AK - If you get 3 callers, your chance to win pre-flop is 37.56%. Against 2 callers, your chance goes up to 47.25%. And with only 1 caller, your chance is 64.51%.

AQ - 35.76%, 45.76% and 63.48% respectively.

So it is without doubt in your best interest to get at least 1 more to fold, if that means a shove then so be it.

And as you said it doesn't apply to every situation, there are always situations that are different, if you have been playing these opponents at this table for a while and have an idea of their play style, use this to make your decision.
 
edc1

edc1

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 5, 2016
Total posts
524
Chips
0
i think raising and isloating is more profitable then flatting -multi way hands are a-k a-q killers- they do well against 1 player-i to have flatted them in past as well as raised them after years of playing i learned the hard way
 
Top