PP 2/4, AKo button vs. BB.

[slamhound]

Villain is something like 27/3/1 over a couple hundred hands. What should my turn play have been? Should I just have jammed the flop?

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">7 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">BB raises</font>, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">BB bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">BB 3-bets</font>, Hero...?

[Kwaz]

I 3bet the flop.

[bobhalford]

Here, BB is likely to be checkraising the flop with something worse than AK - a PP, flush draw, or an Ace with a worse kicker.

Your hand isn't good enough to slowplay here (by calling BB's flop raise). You may do this with AA, but with AK you need to jam the flop here and bet the turn. If BB now check-raises or bet/3-bets the turn, then you can consider laying down. You should also have a read on this person since you have played a couple hundred hands with him/her. Would he make this play with AK or worse? Or is he only capable of doing this with a 6, 88, or AA? Had you been doing much stealing vs. this opponent? How does he perceive you? If he thinks your button raises don't mean squat, he might be making this play.

By putting it all in on the flop, you force him to reveal the strength of his hand on the turn. By just calling the flop raise, you commit to continuing the charade on the turn where BB still thinks you don't have an Ace. If he plays the turn strongly (i.e. doing something besides than check/calling, check/folding, or bet/calling), you don't know yet whether he has given you credit for the ace. You sure didn't play it like you had AK. He may have a 6 or 88 and is schooling you. He may be doing this with a flush draw or some high PP like JJ/QQ/KK which he thought he might "surprise" you with on the flop. Some players that don't raise much preflop like to do this. You just don't know what it is. By 3-betting the flop, you eliminate much of this uncertainty and get as much money in when you believe to have the best of it. Then when the turn card comes, the BB is forced to show his true colors. This way the hand plays easier.