3 limps, I raise AK in SB, BB 3bets, all call.

5-way (15 SB): 643
X to BN who bets. Was surprised BB didn't CB. Maybe we have the same hand. I'm getting the right price to draw here but I could also have the best hand if BN is betting a FD or SD, or if he's just betting because it x to him. I don't want to make it so cheap for everyone behind to call so I decide to xr and make the field face two bets.

BB hesitates for a sec then calls. Folds to BN who calls.

3-way (10.5 BB): 3
I'm not sure what BB has. OP would have cbet flop. Would AK cold call my xr? Maybe he has AQ? But wouldn't that cbet too? Don't think I can bet for value nor xf so I decide to xc which doesn't feel great.

HU (12.5 BB): J
I xc BB.

I think pre is good. I didn't 4b pre because if Axx flops and BB cbets, I can xr the field. I like my idea behind my flop xr but let me know if it's FPS. Had no clue what to do OTT. I think I have to call OTR for that price just in case he has a busted draw.

Thoughts?

Who bet the turn?

I don't see a lot of value in raising the flop.

BB.

So BB 3 bet preflop, check/called two on the flop, and then donkey the turn? Strange. Don't fold yet.

I'm capping preflop for value.

Raising the flop seems fine if it can buy you outs. Bad if it can't.

If I had to put BB on a hand I'd guess AJ but he is probably just drunk or crazy.

I x/c the flop and turn. Probably x/cing river also b/c he could As with no pair.

Cap preflop against 3 limpers who just called a SB raise and BB reraise. They should have garbage hands and low to mid pairs at best.

This was the whole idea. If I call and BB calls, the other two may overcall with anything. But if I raise and make them face two bets cold, they might fold stuff like QT, J9, A8, K3, and that improves my chances to win for an extra small bet. And it seems to have worked since they folded. I guarantee if I flat and BB flats, they'll overcall without thinking twice.

But you're not buying outs. You want hands like Ax and Kx in the hand b/c when you both hit your pair OTT, they are more than likely drawing to three outs and will pay off multiple bets on BB streets.

All x/ring the flop does is iso yourself against the BTN with marginal equity and most likely the worst hand vs. his flop c-betting range. That flop favors BTN's range more than ours, so x/ring the flop is a bad idea.

The only folds you want here are from A3/A4/A6 (and their Kx counterparts though those are less likely out), and like 22, likely none of which are folding in the already large pot for 2sb's.

I guess the idea is that you can potentially win unimproved if you get it HU vs a draw?

OP:

If you never try to clear outs at 8-16, you will probably make more money at these stakes.

That was the idea. But also to try to get hands like JT and Q9 to fold so that they don't spike OTT and overtake my hand.

Not sure I understood what "try to clear outs" meant. You mean stop trying to fold out players?

If so then duly noted. I guess I was trying to approach the game with a tight agro style but maybe I'm being agro in the wrong spots and should just stick to value betting/raising.

I literally do mean stop trying to fold out players.

In a low stakes game where a lot of people see the flop, AK is (1) a drawing hand and (2) an occasional bluff catcher. If you miss the flop with it, start calculating how many outs you have against your opponents' ranges and go from there.