2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

We're playing 2/5 NL 6 or 7 handed at my regular game. My stack is $605. There is a limper or two, and then a big stack with well over 200 bb raises to $45. He is capable of making that bet with an extremely wide range of hands. The action then folds to the SB, who runs the live game, and he calls the $45. The bunch of us play together frequently, and the SB knows what the PFR is capable of, and thus I know that the SB is capable of calling the raise with a wide range. The SB covers me as well. I look down at AKo in the BB, and I decide to make it $200 straight. Most of the players view me as being tight. Everybody folds including the PFR, and then the SB goes into the tank for a minute, and puts me all-in for my remaining $405. The SB can be described as a decent LAG, and I'm getting roughly 2 to 1 on my money. What kind of range do I put this player on and do I call?

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

I am trying to think of a better spot you can be in regarding AK preflop, but I can't.

His range is something like AQ+, AJs+, 88, 99, TT, JJ, QQ, please call.

Andrew

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

F O L D

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

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F O L D

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no

easy call

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

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There is a limper or two, and then a big stack with well over 200 bb raises to $45. He is capable of making that bet with an extremely wide range of hands. The action then folds to the SB, who runs the live game, and he calls the $45. The bunch of us play together frequently, and the SB knows what the PFR is capable of, and thus I know that the SB is capable of calling the raise with a wide range.

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I got some negative criticism that hopefully you won't take personal. I think you have two problems here.

First is it appears you weren't prepared to handle a push, from the SB or anyone else. With your stack size, re-raising to $200 and folding to a push there is really bad NL poker. Others may disagree, but I think you're committed to call when you do.

Second is you seem confused by the action of the SB while his play seems obvious. What could he have? You're a slight dog to a pp or you both have AK.

It would be ridiculous for him to have AA-KK, so that's out. I can see him not wanting to re-open it initially with AK or QQ-JJ for the same reason about not wanting to be faced with a push. But now that it's just you and him, he figures wtf.

If you saw it this way and was just confused, okay. But I wasn't sure if you did. The re-opening is debatable. Calling the SB is a no brainer.

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

Call. Personally I wouldn't of re-raised so much as it commits too much to the hand and also looks a bit scared. AA/KK is looking for action and I reckon he puts you on big slick or sim (esp. in a regular game?). At say $135, then you're getting more like 5/3 from the same push and you at least have a choice. Plus a couple of calls may be more likely anyway, as if the initial raiser calls its tougher for SB to move with two to act. Of course if MP still folds at least a call from SB will be mandatory, but you will have position then. Basically you sacrifice alot of folding equity, but hopefully build a pot big enough to push the flop when you hit. Or small enough to at least consider folding preflop.

Anyway I'm just a 0.5/1 player on my first post but thats my line

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

Call too much money in the pot already. Seems like TT, JJ or AK, maybe QQ and very unlikely KK-AA.

Re: 2/5: Live AK hand at my regular game.
 

SA125 has made a nice analysis to show that SB can't possibly have AA or KK, and I totally disagree with it. SB knows that only LAG (PFR'er) and hero are left, and hero, being tight, will probably just fold. He looks down to see AA or KK, and he thinks, hero is probably folding anyway. How do I get the most money out of LAG? If I raise now, he'll probably just fold, because we all know he likely has nothing. But if I just call, then check the flop, I know he will make a continuation bet most of the time and I can check-raise.

So the hand all hinges on what hero's hand range is for his raise. Or, to put it more correctly, what is SB's perception of hero's hand range for his raise? If, for instance, hero would make his raise only with 99+, AK, and AQs, and we assume that SB knows this, AND we know that SB knows hero would definitely fold 99, TT, and AQs to the rereraise, then we can assume that SB has QQ, KK, or AA, and hero should fold.

On the other hand, if hero's range for his raise is any 22+, AT+, A8s+ (and SB knows it), then hero has an easy call. I haven't done the math, but if we can toss in as little as just AQ into SB's range for this action, then we have an easy call, because there are 12 ways he can have AQ and only 6 ways he can have a hand that dominates us. (22-QQ and AKs are close enough to being coin flips that they can be safely ignored. In any case, even if opponent showed QQ, hero should call for the pot odds, though he is slightly behind.)

Results
 

I called instantly, and the SB's KK held up. It was a weird way for him to play kings, but I should've known that he had a monster when he put me in. He doesn't do this with many hands in this spot, and I'm pretty sure he'd muck queens. I was just focused on the fact that I was getting 2 to 1 on my money.