I had a situation come up in a 1-2 session the other day that I hadn't been in before. It's been a rare occurrence for me to see a raise and a reraise before it gets to the HJ of CO. So, I was surprised to see the following action:

I'm on bovada so my histories on players are only as long as the session so the stats are more like live play observations (i.e. "how are they approaching this session?")

UTG (VPIP 24% PFR 21%) raise to $6 off of a $245 stack
UTG+2 (VPIP 50% PFR37%) raise to $14 off of a $310 stack
I'm UTG+3 and wake up with AKo with $252

I don't think that a 4bet here is ever as a bluff. It's too strong. And against most other players (who aren't playing half of their hands) it's an easy raise. If my stack were half the size it's a shove (i think?). But here, I honestly don't know.

I'm not posting this in the SSNL forum because it's not an intricate look at strategy. Just this one decision point. Should this be in my 4bet range or my flatting range?

Thank you.

Is this 6 max or full ring?

Looks like you mentioned CO and then you're UTG+3 so assuming 6 max.

Stats are probably insignificant due to sample size issues, but I'd 4 bet. I'd stack off vs UTG+1 because even though the stats have sample size issues they appear to at least give a hint of loose and aggressive.

Probably wouldn't stack off vs UTG.

I'd be more inclined to flat suited AK if I thought having a flatting range was necessary in this situation.

It was full ring. I didn't mean to imply I was CO or HJ, just that I hadn't seen a lot of aggression outside of late position.

What would inform your decision to have a flatting range vs having only a 4bet range?

Thanks.

No worries. Generally full ring is nittier than 6 max especially from early positions which can influence decisions.

Even in 6 max a lot of players don't 3 bet AK vs UTG opens for example. More about deception and keeping narrow UTG range as wide as possible.

In our example though I think it would be better to 4 bet to give ourselves better shot of being last to act postflop and perhaps generating some fold equity from UTG. We also don't have the benefit of keeping ranges wider after UTG+1 immediately 3 bets, but our hand is clearly not bad enough to fold.


1. What players are left to act behind me (i.e. are there players behind me that will make having a flatting range worthwhile). Whales that will call or a lot of nits that will fold a lot would make calling more enticing.

2. Are there enough hands that I can flat profitably so that my range isn't face up?

3. Post flop skills of UTG and UTG+1

There are probably more but those are the ones that I think would influence the decision the most.

You can actually fold if you don't think UTG+2 has any bluffs in his range.

Yes this would be in your 4bet bluffing range,

Full ring best play is to fold here although it doesn't apply in 6-max or in most peoples general tendencies.

Folding sounds nitty but they can't both be bull****ting.

At best we are flipping.

Full ring we can justify not wanting to flip.