20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

I know its pretty basic, but...

Opponent is good player, hyper-LAG, always plays a massive stack. I am short (about $1700).

EP opens for $60. Opponent in MP makes it $360. In the cutoff I find AQ off.

Normally an insta-fold of course, and as I rule I don't get involved with this hand, but Villian's range is huge in this spot, especially when he is running over the table. Folding AQ seems weak.

Trouble is the stack. If he's paying attention, he knows that raising to $800 commits me anyway, so just push instead? Or call and try to make the move on the flop of it looks right?

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

how did EP open raise to 1.5xbb

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

The game is actually 10-10-20, $40 to open. So it plays like 20/40, but its a pain to explain every time. Should have just said $80.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

If you decide to play this hand, I think raise to around $900 getting it in pf / on the flop > shoving straight away.

This is because EP will fold the same hands either way but MP could think "he must call" with hands like KQs. And if MP want's a coin-flip with a pocket pair he will call or shove you either way. And if you happen to be a huge dog it would have happened anyway also.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

shove

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

Yea I mean it would be bad to fold here imo, and I thought about this hand for a few minutes and I think theres valid arguments for the raise to 850 and the push but I believe that a push is the best move because:

it folds out small pairs which will often call and play a non ace or king flop (and sometimes a king flop but never an ace flop) but he'll most likely fold small pairs here. There's 450 or thereabouts in the pot already so when you put in your 360 its 810 and your push is 1400 more, therefore.. It's not like you need any more value, and I dislike a fold here so just put it in and try to take the pot now. Against a very laggy opponent I don't think a fold is the right play.
Also because of the value in the pot (ie the guy's getting about 1.6-1 to call he might even call with hands like AJ and KQs anyway with the idea of you have 77-TT here.

So yes - Shove.

EDIT: - of course it doesn't always fold out small pairs :P
And a flat call is horrible imo i prefer a fold.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Normally an insta-fold of course

[/ QUOTE ]

normally you play ok.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

Shoving sucks.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

Fold.

Re: 20/40 Live...Any good way to play AQ preflop here?
 

whos the villain, who's EP, and whats your image at the table?

i'd prefer a smaller reraise to a shove if he can see your stack clearly, shove if he can't. but i'm not sure i prefer either to a call, or a fold.