I suck at AK -- Part 2

Part 2 of a series.
Ok I have trouble with firing 2nd barrels with an unimproved AK. I've been trying to avoid doing so as it's cost me too much in the past.

What criteria are you looking for when firing a 2nd on an unimproved AK? A flop board with a straight/flush draw that misses the turn? That hits the turn? Is firing a 2nd just a bad idea in general with this hand? I've lost money by doing it..and lost money by not doing it when I checked down to someone with a weak pair that I maybe could have pushed off.


Hand 1: Flush hitting seemed like a bad place to fire again. Good fold?
Hand 2: I bet that flop way too weak.
Hand 3: Again, flop bet too weak for a CBET.


Villian 50/5/.8

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($12.85)
Hero ($27.35)
CO ($9.95)
Button ($39.65)
SB ($14.60)
BB ($13.05)
UTG ($7.85)
UTG+1 ($103.50)
UTG+2 ($22.80)
MP1 ($13.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A, K.
UTG calls $0.25, 3 folds, MP2 raises to $1.1, Hero raises to $3, 4 folds, UTG folds, MP2 calls $1.90.

Flop: ($6.60) T, 4, 7 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $4, MP2 calls $4.

Turn: ($14.60) 5 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($14.60) 5 (2 players)
MP2 bets $5.85 (All-In), Hero folds.

Final Pot: $20.45
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Villian 18 hands 61/11/0

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($57)
BB ($8.65)
UTG ($12.25)
UTG+1 ($5)
MP1 ($24.15)
MP2 ($30.80)
CO ($26.30)
Hero ($26.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, K.
UTG calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $1.

Flop: ($2.85) Q, 6, 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $1, UTG calls $1.

Turn: ($4.85) 2 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

River: ($4.85) J (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $4.85

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Villian is 35/14/3

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($23.15)
BB ($8.75)
UTG ($12.55)
UTG+1 ($24.20)
UTG+2 ($22.65)
MP1 ($9.55)
MP2 ($12.25)
Hero ($25.50)
CO ($10)
Button ($8.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, A. CO posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.6, 1 fold, Button calls $1.60, 2 folds, UTG+2 folds, MP2 calls $1.35.

Flop: ($5.65) J, Q, 2 (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $2.5, Button folds, MP2 calls $2.50.

Turn: ($10.65) 4 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($10.65) 4 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $10.65

i lolled pretty hard at your cont bet on hand 2.

This better not be your standard bet when you miss.

First hand was played fine. But both the last two, your bets get called by too many weak hands and cause you to speculate on later streets.

I wouldnt be shocked if villian in hand 2 calls with JT and gets there by the river.

i just noticed opp is 50/x in hand 1 otherwise id have been asking where the second barrel was.

Do they have these players on UB i thought it was tight?

Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla

i lolled pretty hard at your cont bet on hand 2.

This better not be your standard bet when you miss.

Ya...laughing material. When I went back looking for AK hands to post, I was like "OMG, that's weak".

So do you have certain keys to look for in firing the second barrel?
Now if I had bet stronger on the CBET would either of those two be spots or would checking down be wisest?

I actually would have fired out on the turn in hand 1 for $6 to put him all in. If he has the flush there then I pay him off but he can't not put you on the A-high flush either.

By betting $6 here we're putting him to the test for all his chips in a situation where he has to have us beat or lay it down as opposed to checking behind and then having him first to act on the river and putting us to the test.

It's quite likely a bad move, and I'm sure others will disagree with me, but really it's only $6 into a $14 pot, we've raised preflop and led out on the flop so unless he is holding Axc then the turn card has to put an A-high flush in our range so if he wants to gambool with less than that here we can get an idea of what he's like and use that later on.

As a secondary effect it puts an image on the table of our play with AK that can be used to our advantage at a later time when we do have the hand we represent for a very minimal investment.

I wouldn't do this however if he had us covered or even a reasonable deep stack but I think the benefits in the long-term at the table would be worth the $5.85 it would cost if they do make the call on the turn and have us beat.

Hand 1. This is an incredibly draw heavy board, if you are cbetting this make it atleast $5. Looking at MP2s stack Id check here and not get anymore money in without hitting a pair. If you bet that flop and he pushes for a little more than twice your bet do you just let it go? You have to be more careful when cbetting into shortstacks, I typically only do it when I hit something. Readable? Yes, but shortstacks at microlimits dont play enough to pick up on those things.

2. This flop is again incredibly draw heavy, bet more here. what made you bet so little? On a board like this I will sometimes fire a second barrel if none of the draws hit on the turn, but it depends on the opponent. Against these passive opponents Im most likely not firing another barrel.

3. In a multiway pot you should be betting more, the same goes for a draw heavy board, Id bet much closer to $5 here for a cbet. Given the size of the pot and our stack size Im probably not betting again without hitting something, he has about a PSB left and probably wont commit this much without atleast a piece of the board.