AK pre 1st blind level FT from the blinds.

[Alpine021]

Only just found this forum but anyway a solid player on Full Tilt playing mainly $20 / $30 SnGs.

So obviously no stats on anybody yet apart from a few regulars but this is mainly against unknown players that are break - even / losing players on Sharkscope.

So how do people generally play this?

So blinds 15 / 30 still with with around 1500 starting stack with AK on SB or BB.

And this against say from UTG+1 to Hijack and they open for 150.

Are people re-raising here no matter what? I don't really like re-
raising as it would pretty much have to be to around 400 which is just under 1/3 of my stack. And as most SnG strategy advises - it's better to avoid confrontation early on as their is so much play left.

A few reasons for this is I've tried it a lot and seem to get flatted a lot (losing players I imagine are not putting down a half decent pair or even something as awful as AJ to a re-raise)

So if a ragged missed flop I hate check folding and also hate C betting to look strong only to get shoved on and be down to about 700.

Flat calling preflop isn't much better if I miss as I've shown no strength and a C bet might look like I'm buying it and I'd have to fold to a reraise. It's too early and dangerous to check raise.

It's just happened a lot recently and wonder what people on here are more towards preflop..

[drmcboy]

generally I would call pre then c/c all streets with TP. I would expect he'll bet worse TP hands for you. If he checks back lead the next street almost always, including brick flops if he checks those. CR if you flop a flush draw.

If you were to 3 bet I would make it like 500 so you could shove the flop if you wanted to and help PPs to fold, but I don't think that's the best value play.

[Alpine021]

I've got no problem c/c some1 like that on a rag board with TPTK to some extent but I meant purely if I miss....

[taipan168]

I agree, I would most likely flat preflop and see what happens on the flop. If you miss, I agree with drmcboy, check the flop and if he checks behind (given he has position) then consider leading a missed turn.

[RoundThemUPjoe]

I also like the flat call pre- i've tried different things with this hand including pushing over the top and too many times I've been called with hands like 44 or 77 and had I flat called and cbet the flop or turn i would have been able to push them out. I've also hit and taken the pot but I've come to like the flat call pre and cbet the flop or turn... I usually bet out under the pot but over half so if 345 in pot I'd bet something like 220-275 that way if they push or reraise on a missed flop I can fold and still have plenty of chips to play with the rest of the game.

[Alpine021]

Exactly I do flat now. Fold equity almost becomes pointless against these players that won't fold say 44 or 77 like u said.

To sum up I don't want to play a drawing hand out of position early blinds even though it's way ahead of villains range. I'm obviously not folding but I need to hit the flop pretty hard to be check-calling, firing 2 or 3 barrels etc. I agree with possible check-raising with the flush draw and 2 overs but in SnGs overall I just don't like to get involved at early blinds as even getting my money in ahead I can still get sucked out on later streets.

Against good solid players you can defintely 3 bet as they will almost certainly fold a range including upto maybe AQ or low to mid pairs and similarly you can 3 bet a raise from cut off or the button.

The problem I have which I discussed with a very solid low to mid stakes player is u can't based your decisions solely on sharkscope. Calling people down light when there is a lot of play left is dangerous. We all know even a LAG or just downright maniac can wake up with a hand.

[taipan168]

I agree with possible check-raising with the flush draw and 2 overs but in SnGs overall I just don't like to get involved at early blinds as even getting my money in ahead I can still get sucked out on later streets.

This doesn't make sense, if you're getting your money in ahead on the flop why does it matter whether you get sucked out on on later streets? By definition if you're getting sucked out on, you got your money in ahead...I don't get it.

[Alpine021]

[quote="taipan168"]

This doesn't make sense, if you're getting your money in ahead on the flop why does it matter whether you get sucked out on on later streets? By definition if you're getting sucked out on, you got your money in ahead...I don't get it.

I just meant I don't like getting all the money in first blind level or 2nd for my entire equity even as a 60% 40% favourite.

Why do u think that's long term +EV?

At best it's a double up at worst I'm out....

[taipan168]

I just meant I don't like getting all the money in first blind level or 2nd for my entire equity even as a 60% 40% favourite.

If you know you're going to be a 60/40 favourite I would get all my chips in on the very first hand every time.

- If you have 1500 chips your equity is by definition 11.1% of the prize pool
- If you double up to 3000 chips (by knocking a player out) your equity is 20.3% of the prize pool

Therefore you need to be 11.1/20.3 = 54.7% to win to make it +EV, so I take a 60/40 every time.

Your logic is good for a true flip (eg. 22 vs AKs) where you lose expected value by flipping the very first hand, but we can comfortably take a 60/40 and come out ahead in the long run.