Is this an example of eliminating your variation? (AQ vs TAG)

[Lunatunez]

It's been pretty clear to me (in the ~40 hands I've played at this table) that this player is a TAG, he smells like 2+2. Question is, is AQo enough to 3 bet here on the button, or do I just want to get out of the way most of the time and wait for better spots??

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (8 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises</font>, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, Hero ??

[kr8tos86]

scratch

[Harv72b]

TAG or no TAG, I doubt that many players at 1/2 are raising a lot of hands UTG that don't crush you. So yeah, I'd just let this one go.

Even on higher limits, I'm rarely 3-betting here unless I have a read which tells me to (either very LAG or very weak postflop). Otherwise I'm either folding or coldcalling.

[JJH3984]

I agree with Harv except I don't need them to be very LAG just sorta LAG. AQ is pretty much an automuck for me in this spot though.

[Ricks]

This situation is almost always a 3bet or fold for me. To 3bet I would have to have some clear evidence that UTG is capable of raising lightly. This is an easy fold for me.

[Bob T.]

Fold.

A UTG raise from a tight aggressive 1-2 player isn't really good news for AQo

[gezuz]

Fold this. However, should the raise come from MP2 or later I would strongly consider 3 betting.

[Mr_Donktastic]

For me its a fold or 3 bet - I wont cold call. Against the player you described its a fold.

I like the 3 bet because that one extra SB can get you heads up, increase your FE, get you free cards, etc. Always seems worth it to me.

[WalkAmongUs]

I also usually 3-bet or fold in this spot. If villain is good: fold. If villain is kinda crappy: 3-bet.

[async]

[ QUOTE ]
It's been pretty clear to me (in the ~40 hands I've played at this table) that this player is a TAG, he smells like 2+2. Question is, is AQo enough to 3 bet here on the button, or do I just want to get out of the way most of the time and wait for better spots??

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (8 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises</font>, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, Hero ??

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure this play probably does lower your variation, but I think it probably lowers your winrate as well.

(1) You have the button and should be able to win/save an extra .5-1BB here.
(2) The blinds help compensate here.
(3) Showing this hand down when you 3-bet with AQ adds deception without being disastrously -EV in the present context. Showing down AQ now, win or lose, may earn you bets later with AA/KK.