This hand took place last night at my usual club game. The game normally is $1/2 but this was a special $2/5 night. Villain and I have some recent history that I think applies to this hand. I view him as a competent player who is willing to make big laydowns, but also make hero plays when the situation calls for it. Here are two hands we've played together in the last two sessions (prior to the hand in question):

Hand 1: Two weeks ago in a $1/2 game, we're both about $500 effective stacks. There's a double straddle to $10, Villain opens from the CO to $25, I 3-bet to $60 from the button with J2o, Villain thinks for a while and calls. Flop comes J98 and goes check-check. Turn is 4 Villain checks, I bet $65 and Villain calls. River is 8 Villain checks and I bet $110 for pure value. Villain tanks, says there's nothing you can possibly have, and calls off with AT (he had Ah). He was obviously pretty shocked when I tabled J2o.

Hand 2: Early in the $2/5 game the night of the hand in question, I'm sitting with roughly $450 and Villain has me covered. It's 7-handed and table has been playing extremely straightforward so far, with buttons opening just about every single pot they're able to. Folds to Villain on the button and he makes it $15, I have AT in the SB and 3-bet to $42. Villain calls. Flop comes TT8 I lead for $45, Villain quickly raises to $105, I tank before announcing all-in. Villain then tanks and decides to stack off with QQ.

We've also played a few other hands over the past couple weeks and I've gotten the best of him in all of them. While I think Villain is a very competent player, I have to imagine he's steaming a bit at this point and would love to get revenge on me. Now to the hand in question:

V1 ($800) opens to $15 in the HJ
V2 (Previously described Villain -- $450) 3-bets to $45 OTB
Hero ($1,000) looks at AQ in the SB

I thought for a long time and could not decide what to do. I honestly think 4b/folding, 4b/calling, calling and folding all have merits here. Though calling is probably the worst, and I hate 4b/folding, too.

Thoughts?

The normal play would be folding. If you can 3-bet J2o, I'm guessing AQ probably looks like pocket aces. Sounds like this is a fun game where reads are more important than cards. Just keep in mind you're OOP.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the villain is awful. As such, I doubt he has retained anything from the other sessions other than a vague sense you win big pots off of him.

I'd fold because he doesn't appear to raise pf without solid starting value. His 3bet range is likely QQ+, AK.

I'd fold. Effective stack is too short to continue imo.

Top of his range has you dominated, mid-pps will not pay-off should you flop a pair. 4-bet/folding ~30-35% of eff stack not palatable.

I disagree with this. I think he has some leaks in his game, but he is most certainly a thinking player (some of his thoughts might just be wrong haha).

J2o hand is like tipping a volcano upside down on yourself and calling it a shower.



AQo is the easiest fold ever. This is a 3 bet pot. I you 4bet its a bluff.

Is HJ open-raising $15 with a wide range? Does the BTN know HJ's $15 open-raising tendencies? If the BTN perceives HJ to have a wide $15 HJ open-raising range, will the BTN 3bet bluff sometimes/often with air? If the BTN perceives HJ to have a wide $15 HJ open-raising range, will the BTN 3bet more lightly/widely (wider range of AQ+/TT+ or even much wider range of AQ+/TT+ with some random AJ/KQ/99 combos instead of a tight range of AK/QQ+) for value?

Once you know the answers to those questions, then you can determine best course of action with AQ in the SB. I would consider 4bet bluffing AQ in SB if I thought that I was facing an aggressive late position war, and I would just fold AQ if I thought that the BTN was 3betting a tight value range.

What kind of leaks do you think he specifically has in his game (generalized) bc this will help answer your question...

I think he has a tendency to raise to "find out where he stands." Not a lot, but sometimes. I think the AT vs. QQ hand sort of shows that. If he's raising me on the flop there in position, he should be prepared to snap-call my shove. He did eventually call, but he really struggled with it -- he clearly didn't have a plan when he raised.

I think button and I both know HJ's opening range is pretty wide. I think it's more likely Button is 3-betting for value than on a bluff, but I think he will 3-bet for value here with a wider range.

I don't like the idea of 4-bet bluffing. Why do that with a hand so strong when I'd have to put in like 30-35% of my stack? At that point I'd have to call off a shove just because of pot odds.

Big difference between calling a 3-bet and being the 3-bettor ... and although AQ is not the best holding in this spot it certainly would play well against button V here. Issue is the range of our call to the opener and will opener then 4-bet? Do 'we' steal here a lot? Button V could very well show up here with 22-AA, AK-ATs, KQs? Maybe wider?

Under normal circumstances this is a fold at 2/5 just because button is short and pot will get large quickly if 3-handed ... but it is very hard to muck for sure!!

You considered a 4-bet, ok, but what if Button flats you? You are OOP and need to connect to the Flop and still might not know where you are at .. except against the full range for V and not AA/KK. GL

id fold bc you've showed that you will 3bet him light already so hes more likely to play back at you with a flat or a 5bet and I don't like either of those bc we have AQo oop in a 4bet pot if he flats. and if he 5bets were flipping at best.... so id just look for a better spot in position.

I can see the temptation though bc if you 4bet here and get folds or if he flats and you win posflop you have just completely demoralized him.

I much rather 4bet to $150-180 with a hand that has some playability postflop and that I can fold to a 5bet in this situation. you said you started hand with 1000 right? putting 333 in pre would be 1/3 of your stack.

fold>4b/f (to ~130)>4b/c (~130)>call

I wish I folded those queens. I still like the A10 call.

He's probably 1 step away from being dangerous to you. Once he gets over the "they're playing back at me" syndrome, you're going to struggle with him As for now, he's awful.

ATSai pretty much nails it with his questions.

If you have that info then sure 4 bet AQ otherwise just fold.

Exactly this^^^.

If you aren't sure why this V is terrible, then just re-read the HH that you posted. Hand 1 is lol bad. OTT V had, an OESD, NFD, and an over-card to the board.....and he check calls?!?

I'm guessing that his 3-bet range is actually KK+. Making AQo an easy fold.

Wow, you sound like a really aggro player 3 betting those type hands and getting paid off. I guess guys play back at you a lot?

If earlier in the night he only flatted your 3-bet with QQ, and got to see your ATs 3 bet, I'd expect him to have QQ+ here and 5 betting all in fist-pumping after your 4bet. I'd fold. There's no way he'd continue with worse than AQ, and you'd be turning your hand into a bluff anyway. Might as well be doing it with J2 off.