General Theory - KK/QQ on Ace high flop

[[Phill]]

Three hands from a pretty common situation. Spot the odd one out.

PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

UTG ($100)
UTG+1 ($496.65)
MP1 ($104.15)
MP2 ($98)
CO ($31.95)
Button ($96.75)
Hero ($115.80)
BB ($122.40)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, CO calls $1, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to $2</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $8</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, CO folds, Button calls $6.

Flop: ($18) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $11</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to $22</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $40

Results in white below: <font color="#FFFFFF">
No showdown. Button wins $40. </font>

PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Button ($116.95)
Hero ($185.10)
BB ($36.80)
UTG ($96)
MP1 ($61.60)
MP2 ($18.50)
CO ($51.35)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 raises to $3</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $10</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP1 calls $7.

Flop: ($21) 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $12.5</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 raises to $30</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $46

Results in white below: <font color="#FFFFFF">
No showdown. MP1 wins $46. </font>

PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

BB ($41.40)
UTG ($55.30)
UTG+1 ($58.90)
MP1 ($51)
MP2 ($119.65)
CO ($137.65)
Button ($240.75)
Hero ($152)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 raises to $3.5</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $11.5</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP1 calls $8.

Flop: ($24) A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 bets $22.8</font>, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $24

Results in white below: <font color="#FFFFFF">
No showdown. MP1 wins $24. </font>

The question i guess, is should you ever continuation bet an Ace high flop with a big pair like KK or QQ when you have 3 bet your opponant preflop?

I know its results orientated thinking, but this is such a common occurence where they give me heat and i fold that im thinking it might be best to just do as the third hand and give up on the flop.

But, if you bet half the flop, you only have to be correct one time in three to break even - so obviously you need to be correct &gt;33% or bet &lt;1/2pot or wherever the equilibrium lies.

And this isnt including the times you get floated on or have someone call on a draw leaving you in no mans land on the turn.

So where do you guys place the equilibrium - what size continuation bet is best? Is a continuation bet best, or is the lower variance, even if -EV, option of check fold the right route? How does flop texture come into play?