AK hits top two pair, facing AI raise

Pre-flop raiser is 21/7 over 200 hands but I don't have any reads and I haven't been at the table long. Button is laggy and terrible. 1) Should I always be re-raising pre-flop? 2) What to do facing the push?

Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Holdem Ring game - Blinds: $0.50/$1 - 7 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $61.40
UTG+1: $67.30
MP1: $117
CO: $37.50
Button: $104.05
SB: $73.15
Hero: $98.50

Pre-flop: (7 players) Hero is BB with K:diamond: A:diamond:
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises to $4, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Flop: K:heart: A:heart: T:heart: ($16.5, 4 players)
Hero bets $12, UTG folds, MP1 raises all-in $113, Button folds, Hero ???

Ewwwwwww.....

I think a weak/tight fold is in order here.

set,QQ :heart: , AQ :heart: , another AK, broadway straight.

Really funny flop, but given the ranges here against a guy who isn't raising a lot of hands I just don't think you see AT/KT or much else you're ahead of often enough to call. The shove suggests a hand afraid of a 4rth heart, but that stuff tends to beat or split with us.

fizzold

Yeah, easy fold in retrospect. How bout pre-flop?

Against MP1 I like the flat call here oop. I would play it differently if you had position, but given opponents range and position I'll just call. I would have to say I play this hand identically to the way you did.

I would reraise pf.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zook

Yeah, easy fold in retrospect. How bout pre-flop?

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i dont mind preflop considering AKs will play well multi way, but id still put the reraise in here about 70-80% the time, if not more.

rerizzle fo shizzle (at least 60/40 raise/call, im probably more like 85/15 in this spot)

In my opinion I would ahve played this differently from the start.

AK suited is a great hand if you are in position. But you are actually in the worst position of all.

I would have called to see the flop. Checked the flop and see how he bets.
That will give you more information.

This way you can read him better. If there is no way he has a flush/straiughtm, then he has to be worried about you having the flsuh possibiliy or straight possibility too (if you seem loose to him). Also the check is better becuaes you are not put into this situation where you are calling a HUGE raise, whcih is never good if you are unsure. He is less likely to bet big if you check. I mean why wopuld he be betting $100+ into a $10 pot with 3 of a kind when possibily he may think you have a straight/flush and slow playing it. This may happen still but this is the action of a weaker player, and makes it easier for you to fold your AK, as the pot odds are stacked way againts you.

Also the check enables you too see a free card on turn which may give you full if you are lucky. Also in this situation keeping the pot smaller is better. Creates less risk in an unsure environment. Last thing you want to be doing is betting when you have no idea if you are ahead or behindd especially if you are out of position.

If the pot is still small on the river and nothing has happened then feel free to bet half - the full size of the pot, you may get a call from a worse hand.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BackBlood

Checked the flop and see how he bets.
That will give you more information.

This way you can read him better. If there is no way he has a flush/straiughtm, then he has to be worried about you having the flsuh possibiliy or straight possibility too (if you seem loose to him). Also the check is better becuaes you are not put into this situation where you are calling a HUGE raise, whcih is never good if you are unsure. He is less likely to bet big if you check. I mean why wopuld he be betting $100+ into a $10 pot with 3 of a kind when possibily he may think you have a straight/flush and slow playing it. This may happen still but this is the action of a weaker player, and makes it easier for you to fold your AK, as the pot odds are stacked way againts you.

Also the check enables you too see a free card on turn which may give you full if you are lucky. Also in this situation keeping the pot smaller is better. Creates less risk in an unsure environment. Last thing you want to be doing is betting when you have no idea if you are ahead or behindd especially if you are out of position.

If the pot is still small on the river and nothing has happened then feel free to bet half - the full size of the pot, you may get a call from a worse hand.

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Generally, if you're going to play hands out of position then you want to be in control of the action.

I think checking the flop is a mistake. You flopped a very strong, yet vulnerable hand. With a board this scary you can't count on someone betting for you so I would lead myself. I'd hate to give a free card to 3 other people when any heart, J or T turns my hand to shit. If you check-raise you're putting half your stack in the middle and if he pushes you're left with an even harder decision. Check-calling doesn't really give you all that much information and you'll be left with a hard decision if the turn bricks and you face a pot sized bet.

Mp1 is going to be betting a lot more hands when checked to than he is raising when there is a bet ahead of him. On a board this coordinated, leading out forces better holdings to tip their strength in order to protect their hand. If you get raised you're almost always either beat or up against a combo draw that isn't far behind. If mp1 just calls your bet then you're investing the same amount as if you check-called, but you can now put him on a narrower range.