annoying preflop spot with AQo

[pzhon]

[ QUOTE ]


[ QUOTE ]
p.85 "If the pot has been raised and reraised in front of you, you must play extremely tightly, even if you do not respect the raisers. Against typical opponents play only AA-QQ and AKs. You may add JJ-TT and AK against looser raisers..."

Most of that quote was out of context in that thread and this one,

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, that quote is exactly in context with that thread(33), and the one it was originally in. Do you remember the context? Maniac games. Read the 1st line. It's about raisers who's raises you don't necesarily respect.

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly in context? No, that thread started with a straddle and (dead) restraddle. The SSHE quote was not about straddles. It was talking about real, meaningful, informative raises and reraises, which indicate stronger than random hands. A straddle indicates nothing, since it is made before the player sees his hand.

From the "You may add JJ-TT and AK against looser raisers," the lack of respect appears to mean you don't respect their play, not that you don't respect their hand ranges. Otherwise it would contradict itself.

You are reacting the same way, folding AQo, that you would if the raises signified strong hands. Why do you treat them the same way?

Do you play AKo against maniacs? Against 5 random hands. AKo wins 27% of the time hot and cold instead of the par of 17%. Each extra dollar you invest preflop returns about $1.60. You said you don't play AQo against maniacs. AQo wins 25% in that situations, for a return of about $1.45. That is not as good as AKo, but it is a huge advantage, and potential reverse implied odds are insignificant in comparison, particularly when the pot is bloated. You won't lose that equity advantage back even if good players take over the random hands, which won't happen.

You aren't up against random hands, but AQo still has a significant equity advantage against reasonable ranges from your loose opponents (it was 20% over par against one set including calls behind), and 3-betting will probably give you the initiative, too.