Hero (CO, $300): Been losing in the session, so tightened up a bit

2 limpers in EP, MP raises to $16, MP+2 calls, Hero calls with AKdd, BTN calls, 1 limper calls

Flop ($85ish): Ah Th 5s
Checks to Hero, Hero bets $40, BTN folds, limper calls, others fold

Turn ($165): 9h
Check, Check

River ($165): 8s
Check, Check

Limper says "Ace" and Hero flips over AKdd for the win


1) I would usually just 3bet preflop here, but is it okay to just flatcall pre and try to win a bigger pot if I'm expecting everyone to fold if I raise, given my tight image?

2) I was ready to bet/fold flop, so didn't want to bet too big 5-handed, so is the half-pot bet on flop okay?

Bigger on flop. Turn check is ok. Bet river. Probably 3 bet pre too.

1) I like calling pre - especially with all those limpers come along.
Bigger otf to make sure all of these people don't call like they all did preflop. Also it helps price out any draws

2)Otr I think a small bet/fold would be a good play. It's kinda blocking betish as well as thin valueish

Bet more at every possible chance.

No reads?

I'll assume they are passive stations then.

We should be bet/folding every street (pot flop, 75% turn, 50% river) including the turn when the flush comes in. They will keep calling with worse, and if they have a better hand they'll let us know by raising our bet.

Phone glitch spam.

hero is young TAG grinder $1000 effective

This, you could check the turn with the Ah though.

No, it's not ok to just flat in order to keep everyone in the pot. AK is not a hand that plays well against too many callers but by calling, you're keeping the two people you've called in and given the two limpers pot odds to stay in. AK is going to win you a lot of small pots an lose you a lot of big pots; flat calling in this position is begging to lose a big pot.

I would have raised pre flop to around $60. It might fold everyone out (I'm happy with the $35-40 win in this case) or it might keep one player in. In less frequent cases, the raiser and the caller will stay in while the limpers will drop, and if you feel $60 won't scare anyone away, increase it.

Regarding the half pot bet on the flop, and especially considering the number of people in the pot still, you're not depriving people of odds to chase their flush. If there were one or two people in the pot still I would feel ok with a half pot raise here but with four others... one caller sets up a cascade of callers. A larger bet makes it less likely that this cascade begins.