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AK Automatic 3Bet?

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08-18-2018 , 11:08 PM

Action_Mike

stranger

Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 8

As I read the various threads it seems the general consensus is that AK is almost always worthy of a 3Bet PF regardless of situation.

I take a much more situational approach and find that I flat more often PF than 3Bet. My image is a TAG player but the strategy has generally served me well. Am I too passive in these situations and missing out on some value? Perhaps I don't value AK PF as highly as most players? I play mostly 2/5 and always buy in for the full amount which is $1k at my home casino.

Thoughts?

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08-18-2018 , 11:16 PM

BigBlue56

veteran

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,963

I've noticed a few bad beats with AK on the wrong end, personally and in threads here.

It seems that a lot has to do with position. If I'm in LP and MP bets, I'll 3bet. If I'm in a blind and LP bets, I'm going to 3bet big.

Not sure that I'm going for 3 streets OOP every time, but if I think LP is stealing or squeezing, I'm very likely to cbet most flops.

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08-19-2018 , 12:14 AM

NutJob72

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 415

There is no always in poker besides bet the nuts last to act on the last betting round.

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08-19-2018 , 02:09 AM

QuantumSurfer

old hand

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,987

What does your 3b range look like if even AK isn't in it? QQ+? You're leaving a lot of money on the table by not 3b more of your strong hands, and you make it really easy to react to your 3bets when they realize you're nutted. Sounds like you're more weak-tight than tight-aggressive.

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08-19-2018 , 02:47 AM

Jay S

old hand

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,460

My guess is that yes, you're missing out on a lot of value. (You do know what the "AG" in "TAG" stands for, right?)

You might get more useful answers if you post a specific hand or two where you'd flat AK.

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08-19-2018 , 04:07 AM

SuperGlue

journeyman

Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 205

I use to 3bet AK routinely, but according to Janda and Pokersnowie it's definitely a flat sometimes. The hand actually has pretty good implied odds and by flatting you can keep weaker aces and kings in. I'll pretty routinely 3bet AKs, but facing an EP raising and no callers yet I'd definitely consider a flat versus certain players.

Also against larger sizings I'm more apt to flat.

If you're looking for more bluff 3bet combos you can throw in A4s and A5s, that's what pokersnowie does.

There's a hand where Hunter Cichy flats AK in the BB versus a larger sizing which I think is a pretty good example of when to flat with AK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kzodHn9aIM&t=456s

First hand^.

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08-19-2018 , 06:27 AM

oldsilver

MTTLivePro

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5,941

I like back raising AK JJ+
I 3! every other situation
Sometimes I 4!/f deep

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08-19-2018 , 08:36 AM

venice10

Referee

Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25,849

Poker is dependent on situation. If an OMC raises only AA and KK, then AK will go in the muck all of the time. If a drunk is raising everything and stacking off with 3rd pair, I'm 3betting all of the time.

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08-19-2018 , 12:28 PM

Viral25

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,857

What is the raisers calling range?

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08-19-2018 , 12:34 PM

#10

Havick

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 395

As others and OP said, it's situational.

I think taking an "always 3!" Is pure spew. Even worse is the "mandatory" cbet when we whiff the flop. People I see over play the eff out of AK.

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08-19-2018 , 12:34 PM

#11

novice123

centurion

Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 135

Quote:

Originally Posted by venice10

This.

Just depends on your opponents too. But I do lean toward 3betting much more than flatting. I'd rather be the aggressor w/AK

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08-19-2018 , 01:00 PM

#12

Gorgalosk

grinder

Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 450

GG is the SPR guru, so maybe he can expand, but a hand like AK plays best with a low SPR. Oftentimes, the best way to achieve this is by 3 betting as flatting a raise will set up awkward stack sizes that can lead to tough decisions later in the hand.

Everything is player and situation dependent, but that’s one reason why I often prefer a 3!

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