[50NL] A3s...3bet pot facing river jam

[Renton]

Renton - I don't know why you hate 3b suited aces with low kickers so bad! In the BB I can see it, but in the SB I think I'd def rather 3b than call.

Also assuming most ppl will fold A4-A9 at least to 3b, and some ppl even folding AT or AJ, then I think you can get ppl to fold a lot of hands that would have otherwise dominated us postflop.

On top of this, if we do ever have the intention of 5b bluffing, then A2-A5s perform better than most other Axs hands vs villains typical 4b/calling range.

He's in the BB, not the SB. A lot of people (self included) play basically a 3-bet everything strategy from the sb vs co and button opens. I think its fine to 3-bet A5 suited in that case because its obviously a good hand that you're not gonna fold. But if you have a flatting range, it should be in it. I don't think it's particularly close, either. A few thoughts:

1) 3-betting is more +ev with A3s than call in a vacuum, without a doubt. That can be said for almost any hand though, and its really more about how wide your overall 3-betting range is. Since the 3-betting region can only be so large before it becomes easy to exploit, you have to choose the hands that constitute that region with care. IMO there are loads of better hands than A3s.

2) In choosing those hands, IMO board coverage is a big priority. 3-betting a straight up linear range of broadways, big suited cards, big aces and suited aces makes our range ridiculously strong on Axx/Kxx/QJx etc boards and very airy and weak on lower boards. In this context, a hand like A3 suited does very little to balance the strength of our hand on a variety of boards; it makes our range stronger on boards we were already very strong on, and weaker on boards that were weak for us. Axx flop is basically a "win" flop for us, a cbet will be highly profitable in a vacuum. So we'd be much better off 3-betting a hand like J3 suited than A3 suited. J3s can rep Axx/Kxx boards but can still flop pairs on other boards.

3) You're correct that Ax suited hands are decent for 5-betting. They're not the best though. Small pairs and suited broadways both have better equity vs a 99+ AQ'ish range, and the suited broadways can also flat 4bets if they want. A3 suited is most optimal for 5-bet jamming on extremely tight 4-betting ranges, as they have the best equity vs a KK+ range. For this reason I like 3-betting A3s vs EP/MP opens with the option of 5-bet bluffing. In late position I think you'll have plenty of pairs and suited broadways to jam if you want, so I don't think this becomes an overriding consideration as to how to play A3s.

4) Hero flopped a nut flush draw and turned top pair and had a tough time playing this hand. This is an extremely common result of 3-betting this type of hand preflop. It's just so rarely that comfortable playing a big pot, but is a great hand to play a single raised pot without the initiative.

[griffey24]

He's in the BB, not the SB. A lot of people (self included) play basically a 3-bet everything strategy from the sb vs co and button opens. I think its fine to 3-bet A5 suited in that case because its obviously a good hand that you're not gonna fold. But if you have a flatting range, it should be in it. I don't think it's particularly close, either. A few thoughts:

1) 3-betting is more +ev with A3s than call in a vacuum, without a doubt. That can be said for almost any hand though, and its really more about how wide your overall 3-betting range is. Since the 3-betting region can only be so large before it becomes easy to exploit, you have to choose the hands that constitute that region with care. IMO there are loads of better hands than A3s.

2) In choosing those hands, IMO board coverage is a big priority. 3-betting a straight up linear range of broadways, big suited cards, big aces and suited aces makes our range ridiculously strong on Axx/Kxx/QJx etc boards and very airy and weak on lower boards. In this context, a hand like A3 suited does very little to balance the strength of our hand on a variety of boards; it makes our range stronger on boards we were already very strong on, and weaker on boards that were weak for us. Axx flop is basically a "win" flop for us, a cbet will be highly profitable in a vacuum. So we'd be much better off 3-betting a hand like J3 suited than A3 suited. J3s can rep Axx/Kxx boards but can still flop pairs on other boards.

3) You're correct that Ax suited hands are decent for 5-betting. They're not the best though. Small pairs and suited broadways both have better equity vs a 99+ AQ'ish range, and the suited broadways can also flat 4bets if they want. A3 suited is most optimal for 5-bet jamming on extremely tight 4-betting ranges, as they have the best equity vs a KK+ range. For this reason I like 3-betting A3s vs EP/MP opens with the option of 5-bet bluffing. In late position I think you'll have plenty of pairs and suited broadways to jam if you want, so I don't think this becomes an overriding consideration as to how to play A3s.

4) Hero flopped a nut flush draw and turned top pair and had a tough time playing this hand. This is an extremely common result of 3-betting this type of hand preflop. It's just so rarely that comfortable playing a big pot, but is a great hand to play a single raised pot without the initiative.

Great post!

Yah I agree from an overall defense standpoint, if we are trying to maintain our 3b at a particular level, then by flatting A3s we can 3b other hands we are less comfortable calling overall and thereby defend a higher % vs steals overall.

I have to stove some more ranges. I could have sworn A3s performed just as well as something like 89s or 44 vs a 4b/call off range, but I should re-check that.