1/2 Live Very unsure of how to play this AK...

[Damani311]

Just hate AK now period. If someone has a link or two to a good thread/article on it let me in !

1/2 Live 10 Handed NLHE, AK os in SB

UTG +1 calls, Mp1 makes it $12, folds to me and I call, UTG+1 calls.

Three players, pot $39

Flop A Q 5 rainbow

I check, utg+1 checks, initial raiser who is fairly tight and solid makes it $20, both players call.

Turn 7 rainbow continues. I check, UTG +1 now bets out $50, initial raiser calls, I much without thinking twice.

Any thoughts here? I just don't see getting any value betting out, and i'm MORE than fed up with getting my flop and turn bets called, only to face a large bet after I check the river......

Let me know what you think....

[[Phill]]

C/R flop.

Lead flop and make read on opponant's action.

I know at least one person better than me who would 3 bet preflop too - but i prefer a call OOP.

[RapidEvolution]

Every time I've been in a situation this tough with AK OOP, it's been because I talked myself out of 3betting preflop. As played, I'd donk the flop and if UTG+1 sticks around or Button re-raises, I'm probably done.

[PokerFun007]

I'd bet out flop as well. If you see raises, then you can be done early. If you just call bets, you don't get critical information about the strength of your opponent's holdings.

I'm also on the 3bet AK bandwagon. Online, it usually works as an unintentional squeeze play and nets me the blinds and the 2-3 people in for a raise. When I get a caller 75% of the time my 1/2 pot cb nets a fold regardless of the flop. This is online though...

[KurtSF]

Stacks?

Making it ~$40 preflop looks like a good idea.

[monkeymaps]

In a live game i guess 3bet isnt always standard but think its a good move.

Stack sizes are important.
c/r flop
lead is ok if you think youll get called by worse(which you prob will) but only get raised by better hands.

[PLAYOFFS]

Lead or c/r Flop. I don't see how you can call the turn as played. You're only beating AJ imo.

[warrantofice]

I feel your pain for the AK. Most def reraise pre though, online you could work it either way but live people love betting calling ultra light at the 1/2 so your reraise is almost always +EV. As for the flop, depending on stack sizes/pot size --- push or bet big. I usually like to get a few pots uncontested before i start to play some show down hand. OBV. this doesn't apply with really strong hands, but I'm talking about TP type of hands, guess applys with online too, but you gotta bet big live to survive.

[gman339]

I agree that you have to lead out on flop, even more so in live games because there is so much more information to get from villains' reactions.

As I would totally agree with PokerFun007 in regards to 3betting in an online game in this situation, I find it less than optimal in most live games. In live games at this level, I find that people hate giving up hands pre-flop when they've already put money in the pot. Usually, 3betting here just puts me in a big pot in a multi way hand OOP.