KK with AJ flop and Villain aggressive. Good flop play?

[r8ed]

I only have 68 hands on Villain at this point but for shorthanded, this is a fairly tight player. I put his range at AA,AK,KK,QQ,JJ. Maybe AQ,AJ,TT. Out of those hands, I'm only ahead of QQ and TT.

I checked once I saw the Ace. I wanted to see what he would do. If he checked behind or did 1/4 pot I think I can raise or lead on the turn. If he's betting this flop more than 1/2 pot I think he has something. Then he bet more than 1/2 on the turn when a nothing card comes out. I think I'm toast, so I fold.

My other flop option could have been to lead. But if he smooth calls, I still don't have lots of info and might check the turn anyway. If he reraises - sure I know to fold.

Or I could check-raise the flop. If he pushes, I fold. If he calls, then I'm most likely checking the turn. So, getting to the turn (and hopefully the river) cheaper was my goal unless I spike a King.

What do you think about the flop play and fold?

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


CO: $50.00 (VPIP: 12.12, PFR: 9.09, 3Bet Preflop: 4.55, Hands: 68)
BTN: $20.54 (VPIP: 57.58, PFR: 22.73, 3Bet Preflop: 8.00, Hands: 66)
SB: $13.11 (VPIP: 45.71, PFR: 8.57, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 36)
Hero (BB): $171.18
UTG: $17.11 (VPIP: 56.00, PFR: 16.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
MP: $22.82 (VPIP: 28.13, PFR: 1.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 64)


SB posts SB $0.25, Hero posts BB $0.50


Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has K K


fold, fold, CO raises to $1.50, fold, fold, Hero raises to $4.75, CO calls $3.25


Flop: ($9.75, 2 players) A 6 J
Hero checks, CO bets $5.87, Hero calls $5.87


Turn: ($21.49, 2 players) 6
Hero checks, CO bets $13.24, fold


CO wins $20.30

[Cobra_1878]

I think I wanna 3bet slightly bigger pre as we are OOP for the hand.

I am also cbetting this flop, I think you heavily cap your range once you check this flop as I suspect you're not checking this flop w/ AJ+, JJ or AA?? Pretty much narrows your range down to QQ/KK imo.

[r8ed]

I think I wanna 3bet slightly bigger pre as we are OOP for the hand.

I am also cbetting this flop, I think you heavily cap your range once you check this flop as I suspect you're not checking this flop w/ AJ+, JJ or AA?? Pretty much narrows your range down to QQ/KK imo.

I don't see how betting higher accomplishes anything. If he's calling triple his raise, he's calling another dollar or two. Betting higher doesn't change my position and nobody else is in the hand anyway.

I check that flop with AA, JJ and AJ in a heartbeat. Not every time but often enough. What's the point of scaring AK, KK or QQ away with a made hand? And if they bet when I have any of those hands, I have options. I can smooth call or reraise. At that point the pot is growing enough that I can get them pot committed on the turn.

I appreciate the feedback, but I respectfully disagree with most of it.

[Cobra_1878]

I don't see how betting higher accomplishes anything. If he's calling triple his raise, he's calling another dollar or two. Betting higher doesn't change my position and nobody else is in the hand anyway.

I check that flop with AA, JJ and AJ in a heartbeat. Not every time but often enough. What's the point of scaring AK, KK or QQ away with a made hand? And if they bet when I have any of those hands, I have options. I can smooth call or reraise. At that point the pot is growing enough that I can get them pot committed on the turn.

I appreciate the feedback, but I respectfully disagree with most of it.

Betting bigger makes pots easier to play when you're OOP.

After your 3bet, what exactly is your cbetting range on this flop?

And, if I understand correctly, you don't cbet this flop w/ strong made hands because you don't want to scare away worse hands but you're willing to check-raise which is a much stronger play (albeit strange after you 3bet pre) and more likely to get folds?

You're a much better player than me and I have no idea how 50NL plays, I just thought I would offer my 2c.

[r8ed]

Don't say I'm a much better player than you or doubt yourself. There are people playing much higher stakes that are way worse than both of us and people playing less stakes way better than both of us.

To be honest, I don't 3bet much without AA,KK,QQ unless I know the opponent. But my opponents don't know that unless they have lots of hands against me. Like I mentioned, I sometimes cbet and sometimes check - it depends on my opponent and what I have been doing up to that point. I don't like to take the exact same line every time. Otherwise, I'm not really playing poker. I'm just following a computer program.

I agree that a check-raise is a much stronger play and may get folds. It's just an option and based on the raise amount and situation.

I don't mind playing out of position, especially when I'm the last raiser. In fact my stats from early to mid positions are better than my later position stats. This is most likely due to my looser hand range in late position but I don't feel uncomfortable OOP.

[griffey24]

3b sizing is probably a personal preference.

I'm probably making my entire range $4.50 IP and $5.50-$5.75 OOP, but if your whole range uses this sizing that could be alright.

As played, I'm probably betting flop for value. Probably similar amount of combos of Ax (mostly AQ/AJ) as Jx (QJ/JT), plus other potential FD's etc.

[The Bean Counter]

This is a one and done IMO at this stake and I would never check this flop. Most villains at 50nl can easily narrow you to qq/kk/weak ace and comfortably barrel you off with their entire range. However, most will fold non-Ax vs a Cbet or call one with weaker holdings and check down turn and river unimproved.

[Renton]

I would cbet the flop, but I don't hate your play. Fold the turn, the 6 helps your range more than his so theoretically he should bluff less.

[ISillyDurrrAK]

too mubsy not to cbet this flop.