AK preflop play and top pair hit

[Straightovic]

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, 1.2 Tournament, 15/30 Blinds (9 handed) -

Button (t1485)
SB (t1335)
Hero (BB) (t1500)
UTG (t1500)
UTG+1 (t1425)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1755)
MP3 (t1500)
CO (t1500)

Hero's M: 33.33

Preflop: Hero is BB with KA3 folds, MP2 calls t30, MP3 calls t30, 1 fold, Button calls t30, SB calls t15, Hero bets t150, MP2 calls t120, MP3 calls t120, Button calls t120, SB calls t120

Flop: (t750) A1010 (5 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t400, 2 folds, Button calls t400, 1 fold

Turn: (t1550) 7[color=#CC3333]

I really was wondering to check and see the flop because there is a big chance i wont hit cuz others have like ace small. Then I tought its early i should eliminate at least 2 or 3 with a raise with 5x bb and if i still dont hit i can lay down no problem.

what you think about it?

hero???

[taipan168]

I would raise a little more preflop with all those limpers in front. 180-200 or so seems good. I would definitely not check my BB with this hand since your hand is very likely ahead of whatever they have so you want them to put in more chips with hands that you beat. Plus you hope to thin the field a little so that if you end up heads up on the flop, you might be able to take the pot down on the flop even if you miss.

As played I would bet the flop harder, at least 550 with all those players and the flush draw out there, and as you played it I stick the rest of my chips in on the turn with a BIG smile on my face

[Straightovic]

Yep I did that, and i ended up pushing and getting called with button having j10. But my question is.
I have been into these spots earlier with like aq, ak. You're saying raise it bigger because you want them to put in more chips with hands that you beat. At first im holding ace high, with that many limpers at this particulary bad level I cannot wish for more money into the pot for two reasons. It costs me more than the odds my hand will win at the end; and for the second they wont lay down for 2bb more now but they see their money thats in it as theirs so they would fight more for it. I was lucky to hit An ace here, but how it ended, it was as i expected. Most of the time its like this, limp limp limp, raise 5-8bb call fold call, with AK or AQ, flop comes 592 rainbow, because i got the feeling that at these stakes they limp alot with ax kq,kj,k10, qj, q10, and that lowers the opportunity of hitting. Would you always play it like u said?

[taipan168]

But my question is.
I have been into these spots earlier with like aq, ak. You're saying raise it bigger because you want them to put in more chips with hands that you beat. At first im holding ace high, with that many limpers at this particulary bad level I cannot wish for more money into the pot for two reasons. It costs me more than the odds my hand will win at the end; and for the second they wont lay down for 2bb more now but they see their money thats in it as theirs so they would fight more for it. I was lucky to hit An ace here, but how it ended, it was as i expected

Hang on a second, you're holding ace high and you got the guy to put in money with jack high, how is that a bad thing? The other consideration is that if the flop came AJx and you raised preflop, you now have a situation where opp is drawing very thin but probably won't be able to let go of his hand to your bets.

If you didn't raise preflop that dramatically reduces the chances that opp loses his whole stack on this hand.

It costs me more than the odds my hand will win at the end

I don't understand this part?

[taipan168]

Most of the time its like this, limp limp limp, raise 5-8bb call fold call, with AK or AQ, flop comes 592 rainbow, because i got the feeling that at these stakes they limp alot with ax kq,kj,k10, qj, q10, and that lowers the opportunity of hitting. Would you always play it like u said?

They may be bad players but even really bad players will fold to a bet if they have QT, the flop comes 592 rainbow and somebody bets into them. If you have a specific read that they are so bad that they will call a bet even in this situation then obviously don't bet

[Straightovic]

I do have a better hand against 1 player, but the chance of more people calling, like the situation was here is happening more often than 1vs1 flop play i have the feeling.

Well dont my odds slink of having the best hand against 3/4 random hands?

[taipan168]

Well dont my odds slink of having the best hand against 3/4 random hands?

equity win tie
Hand 0: 41.433% 40.56% 00.90% { AKs }
Hand 1: 19.506% 18.63% 00.89% { random }
Hand 2: 19.530% 18.65% 00.89% { random }
Hand 3: 19.530% 18.66% 00.88% { random }

I do understand what you mean, it's frustrating to have AKs, raise it up, get multiple callers then miss the flop more often then not. That said, the times when you do hit an ace or king on the flop and some turkey can't let their (second best) hand go make up for all those times!