25NL (9Max): AQ on SB, how do I defend blinds?

[Jay.Yang]

Both BTN and BB are unknown.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

saw flop|<font color="#C00000">saw showdown</font>

BB ($7)
UTG ($8.85)
UTG+1 ($47.85)
MP1 ($16.45)
MP2 ($15)
CO ($27.55)
Button ($38.40)
Hero ($24.30)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">5 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to $1</font>, Hero calls $0.90, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets $2</font>, Hero folds, BB folds.

Final Pot: $5

Please comment on PF and Flop. I feel that the way I defend this is too weak. I am at disadvantage because mainly BTN is unknown. Is it better to fold PF?

[RyanCMU]

3bet preflop.

As played I fold flop, if BB wasn't in I prolly float or c/r.

[ontiltsoon]

[ QUOTE ]
3bet preflop.


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[CazicT]

Yeah totally, you are way ahead of his range so you want more money in + you get the initiative if it makes it to the flop. Or if it doesn't make it to flop that's OK, you won a buck twenty five with ace-high, nice!

[threads13]

If you think he is stealing then you should 3-bet this. If you have no reason to believe he is stealing then you should....................&lt;somebody fill in&gt; [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Jay.Yang]

[ QUOTE ]
If you think he is stealing then you should 3-bet this. If you have no reason to believe he is stealing then you should....................&lt;somebody fill in&gt; [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, the problem is I have no read/stats on him. He just sat down less than 1 orbit. What do you do against unknown?

[threads13]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you think he is stealing then you should 3-bet this. If you have no reason to believe he is stealing then you should....................&lt;somebody fill in&gt; [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, the problem is I have no read/stats on him. He just sat down less than 1 orbit. What do you do against unknown?

[/ QUOTE ]

Flip a coin. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I don't know how much theft occurs at 25NL and I play a little bit higher where a robbery would be more common place.

At your level I would speculate that an unknown isn't stealing.

[MarcusT]

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At your level I would speculate that an unknown isn't stealing.

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QFT

But I might call flop...

[threads13]

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[ QUOTE ]
At your level I would speculate that an unknown isn't stealing.

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QFT

But I might call flop...

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't...

[MTBlue]

Most aggressive high stakes players including myself his raise reraise (anywhere from 3-4x )this. Its primarily a value play against donkeys and people who play too loose to reraises (most lowstakes players) and adds a degree of intimidation for them to steal your blinds.

However the flat call can be a nice variant b/c most button openers ranges are so weak and you have good chance to catch someone with a dominated queen or ace.

Postflop play is little more tricky. On this particular flop, I would fold 90% of the time. It has hit the other people's ranges to hard to continue. So how bout a raise or call?
A raise is generally suicidal. Its not a great flop to cbet with overcards so the button probably has a hand or a draw. Both generally like to play big pots, one or two barrels won't be enough. You'll have to three barrel which is a high risk-low reward proposition.

Calling is probably second best play to folding. You aren't trying to showdown Ace-high. You are going to run a semibluff, by throwing in big bets at any heart, 9, 4, 7, 8 even!. It takes a courageous or stupid player to call a large bet on a 4 straight board or 3 flush board with one pair. If you look at your hand this way you have 18-25 outs against a pair of jacks. The key problem with this approach is that sometimes you are going to bluff into the nuts or still get called down by two pair, sets etc and if used too much becomes completely ineffective.