AK hand checkup

no read. pretty regular table, no one's playing noticeably aggressive or passive.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($109.25)
MP ($102.65)
CO ($112.60)
Button ($165.35)
Hero ($93.90)
BB ($100)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, A.
UTG calls $1, 2 folds, Button raises to $4, Hero calls $3.50, 1 fold, UTG calls $3.

Flop: ($13) 6, K, J (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($13) 7 (3 players)
Hero bets $4, UTG calls $4, Button raises to $8, Hero calls $4, UTG calls $4.

River: ($37) 8 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, Button bets $15, Hero calls $15, UTG folds.

Final Pot: $67

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i'll chime in comments first. the call preflop was more for i hate playing AKs out of position. i agree i probably miss value most of the time here.

you flopped the nuts practically so u want to build the pot. since the field (only UTG) is trapped between you and the button, i would lead hoping UTG calls and button raises, then which u could push

Originally Posted by gabe

you flopped the nuts practically so u want to build the pot. since the field (only UTG) is trapped between you and the button, i would lead hoping UTG calls and button raises, then which u could push

hmmm, i guess that makes more sense than me calling the expected button c-bet to keep UTG in.

The button probably isn't betting which is another reason you should lead the flop.

The button is playing his hand like a monster, but it's hard to fold the river with such good odds and no reads.

3-bet PF... he is raising on the button, just raise and make money.

as played leading flop is def ur best line as you have a monster and leading
a) builds a pot
b) utg will have to make a decision which is a lot harder when u lead than if action goes check/check/cbet/cr

Originally Posted by Massimo

The button probably isn't betting which is another reason you should lead the flop.

why do you think button won't cbet here?

Originally Posted by sauce123

b) utg will have to make a decision which is a lot harder when u lead than if action goes check/check/cbet/cr

the original plan was the call button's bet to keep UTG in. if i had a more vulnerable hand like KQo on this board i may check raise instead.

Originally Posted by |~|ypermegachi

Originally Posted by Massimo

The button probably isn't betting which is another reason you should lead the flop.

why do you think button won't cbet here?

Because UTG limped UTG and he's scared of UTG blowing him out of the pot because he has outs and/or a hand that he's suddenly decided should be a small pot one?

Again, tell me if I'm not thinking right here.

Originally Posted by sauce123

3-bet PF... he is raising on the button, just raise and make money.

even if we know we make money by 3 betting, it doesnt make it the best move. calling is fine here but for different reasons than not wanting to play OOP

Wait, has no one said reraise pre and bet flop? Because that seems really obvious.

Run your set line

Originally Posted by gabe

Originally Posted by sauce123

3-bet PF... he is raising on the button, just raise and make money.

even if we know we make money by 3 betting, it doesnt make it the best move. calling is fine here but for different reasons than not wanting to play OOP

I don't get it, I'd really like to hear why we would want to call with AK here unless we had history with the opp. Please explain this.

gabe- I really just dont believe sacrificing that much pf equity to play 2 big cards OOP is better than 3betting.

yper- ur reasoning is right except for the fact that with a hand this strong building a pot basically trumps all other considerations- including keeping utg in the hand with a C/C line.

Originally Posted by sauce123

gabe- I really just dont believe sacrificing that much pf equity to play 2 big cards OOP is better than 3betting.

i think the problem here is...the likelihood of UTG staying in the pot decreases significantly. also, a reraise from the button makes me uneasy, because AK is still an unmade hand before the flop. i know some guys would push a 3bet, but i'm not sure how that can be profitable....just seem like a high variance break-even play (but i suppose it might +EV because of dead money).

maybe it's my limit experience messing me up, cuz it seems like you guys would rather stack 1 player over keeping 2 guys in (although i bet this flop 100% in limit for a b3b, but that's more because 1 bet is very small relative to the pot size)

I don't mind calling here preflop. AKs plays pretty decent vs two other players. But I don't like how post-flop you didn't start putting money in the pot instantly. This is the best flop ever.

If we'd bet $10 on the flop, both had called and the turn was a red J, what would we do? Push and hope that fold equity carries us through? Check-call despite that clubs might be dead?

Originally Posted by |~|ypermegachi

Originally Posted by sauce123

gabe- I really just dont believe sacrificing that much pf equity to play 2 big cards OOP is better than 3betting.

i think the problem here is...the likelihood of UTG staying in the pot decreases significantly. also, a reraise from the button makes me uneasy, because AK is still an unmade hand before the flop. i know some guys would push a 3bet, but i'm not sure how that can be profitable...

1. There is a very small chance of you getting reraised, the guy is raising on the BU with probably 20-40% of his hands at least.
2. If he does I just stick it in. I mean truthfully AK preflop call in isnt much different than QQ.

I'd still like gabe to chime in again.

Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan

I mean truthfully AK preflop call in isnt much different than QQ.

except QQ utterly destroys undercards. but at least AK has a chance against KK :P

im not saying calling pre with AKs is the best play here, but given no information and saying you should reraise here always is bad

i would re raise here 90+% of the time

Originally Posted by gabe

im not saying calling pre with AKs is the best play here, but given no information and saying you should reraise here always is bad

What information is missing? I'd assume villains PFR would be nice to know. If he's raising 5% I'm more inclined to call. I can't think of a whole lot else tho