AK vs UTG raise - 3rd hour $11r+a

[rpr]

This is a very boring hand but my biggest problem mid-to-late in MTTs are situations like raising AJ/99+ and then getting pushed on. I know it's player dependent but I think I need to take more chances to win. I feel like I bleed away chips then push AK with no fold equity and lose to A8 on the bubble.

Question on this hand, with no reads on villain is it better to call his raise and hope to flop an A or K or go for the chance to double up with fold equity? I thought raising 3x his bet looked more like AA/KK/QQ instead of pushing.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t1000 (9 handed) internettexasholdem.com

BTN (t21683)
SB (t15425)
BB (t25065)
UTG (t64900)
Hero (t24558)
MP1 (t40085)
MP2 (t28150)
MP3 (t14720)
CO (t6345)

Preflop: is with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to t3100</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t12000</font>, <font color="#666666">7 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to t64800</font>, Hero calls t12458 (All-In).

Final Pot: t89958

[Dunkman]

I don't think there's anything to do here but shove.

[erc007]

I think u played this hand fine. With 25BBs, i would always 3-bet here with AK. Calling sucks for a couple of reasons:

1. 33% of the time, no A or K flops. UTG will prob c-bet with most of his range a high percentage of the time.

2. When an A or K flops, u will only get action when u are beat.

3. If u flatcall, one of the shortstacks behind may shove. UTG will then shove his entire range (including AQ) to isolate and u will be squeezed. This situation is not bad, if u intend to call, but if you are unsure, you will end up folding the best hand/folding when u have odds to call a fair amt of the time.

I think the best line here is the one that u took: 3-bet 12K/call. When it's back to you, you're getting over 3 to 1, with 38% equity vs. a tight 4-betting range of: QQ+;AKs;AKo.

[rpr]

I know this was a very standard hand. If I had AJ here, I fold and AQ cold call? Assuming I know nothing about the villain.

One last scenario, if UTG folds here and I hold AJs, I open raise 3x and get shoved on, do I call getting 2:1 or better?

[Dunkman]

I am of the opinion that you should not be calling here with any hand given your stack size and position. It's either push or fold for me here pretty much regardless. I mean you can 3bet half your stack with the intention of getting the rest in PF or on the flop regardless of what happens if you like that better, I just don't really.

[erc007]

[ QUOTE ]
If I had AJ here, I fold and AQ cold call? Assuming I know nothing about the villain.

[/ QUOTE ]

I fold both here.


[ QUOTE ]
One last scenario, if UTG folds here and I hold AJs, I open raise 3x and get shoved on, do I call getting 2:1 or better?

[/ QUOTE ]

calling is about b/e or slightly EV+, getting 2 to 1 against a 3-bet shoving range of 77+;AQo+;AQs+. So it's not automatic IMO...read dependent.

[rpr]

Thanks for everyone's help. I 3bet that size instead of pushing all in, hoping he'd fold 99/TT/JJ. He reraised with JJ. The result isn't why I posted, just curious if I need to be repopping more and willing to gamble with speculative hands like AJ to win.