AKo (Cold call or 3-bet)

[Willem_D]

First orbit so not much reads. I did see UTG cold call with Q9o a few hands ago.

Poker Stars
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $2/$4
5 players
Converter

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
<font color="#cc0000">UTG raises</font>, CO calls, Hero ???



Raising certainly isn't bad here since I will likely have the best hand. This will also get rid of the blinds and limit the number of opponents to 2.

I used to raise here 100% of the time but I am looking for alternative ways to play certain hands. Would anyone consider just calling here? Calling has several consequences:
- I forfeit an equity edge I have now.
- I am forced to hit to win the hand while 3-betting allows me to pick up some pots were everybody misses.
- I give the BB 1:7 odds to call and AKo doesn't like many opponents.
- I can still raise the flop if I hit. This will get the same amount of money in the pot as the case where I 3-bet and bet the flop after everyone checks to me, but now with a much bigger advantage.
- I keep the pot smaller which makes it easier to play TPTK.
- I invest less if I miss. (Small reason but still)

I would be more inclined to just call if the players are bad. The chance to pick up pots where all miss is small there and I get just as much value by raising the flop if I hit.

I would also be more inclined to call if there was an additional cold caller. The pot will be multiway anyhow so I can't keep the number of opponents low. I should then focus on keeping the pot as small as possible. Also, my equity advantage will be lower.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[Oink]

You answered your own question, but

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I would also be more inclined to call if there was an additional cold caller.


[/ QUOTE ]

Terrible!


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I should then focus on keeping the pot as small as possible.

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Why?


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Also, my equity advantage will be lower.


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No it wont. Your eq will be lower, yes! But your eq EDGE will be higher. You want to push that edge by 3-betting


Dont ever just coldcall here. Its really awful.

[mute]

[ QUOTE ]
Raising certainly isn't bad here since I will likely have the best hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

This pretty much sums it up. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

If you look at your own reasoning, then you've come up with a lot of strong arguments for raising and some pretty weak ones for just calling, so raising is pretty clear.

[ QUOTE ]
I can still raise the flop if I hit. This will get the same amount of money in the pot as the case where I 3-bet and bet the flop after everyone checks to me, but now with a much bigger advantage.


[/ QUOTE ]

This doesn't really hold up, since both are calling your raise now 100% of the time, but that won't necesserally be the case on the flop.

[ QUOTE ]
- I keep the pot smaller which makes it easier to play TPTK.


[/ QUOTE ]

TPTK is a pretty strong hand, that you generally shouldn't mind playing a big pot with. People call down lighter in big pots, so even if you get outdrawn occassionally, you'll get lots of value.

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I would be more inclined to just call if the players are bad.

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This seems backwards to me. If you just call it should be for deception purposes against players, who actually know how to read hands. Bad players don't think about what you have, when you 3bet.

[danzasmack]

This is a 3-bet.

[mvoss]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to raise here 100% of the time but I am looking for ways to burn money.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP.

[Scorcho]

this thread makes my head asplode

[Apanage]

You want to 3-bet because you have a big equity edge and being in position magnifies that edge.

[TheHip41]

i 3town here all day.

The only time I wouldn't 3town is when I play live, and this old man who only has raised KK and AA in his life raised UTG, I folded AKo.

[Oink]

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...and being in position magnifies that edge.

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No it doesnt. Stop saying that. Being in position improves his implied odds as postflop gets easier.

[Willem_D]

Some good responses and some dubious ones [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I used to raise this 100% and I will continue to do so. I was just trying out some alternatives. Surely, I will burn some money trying out new things but it's a good way to learn and improve.