Game is 1/2/compulsory 5 straddle in B&M casino. Pot limit also. We're playing 7 handed at this stage, people have loosened up a bit as it is now 4am. Game is in euros.

Villian 1 : Spanish 20 something, thinking player and from the couple of times i've played briefly with him he appears to be a decent winner. Appears that he generally knows when to cbet and when not to, etc.

Villian 2 : Very strong player, quite successful in tournaments. Have history with him, have called him down on multiple streets with weak holdings including an ace high an hour previously and was good, he is well capable of semibluffing, is stuck a bit so I read him as willing to gamble at this stage of the night.

Hero : Viewed as an aggressive player in spots who is capable of floating/ bluff raising. up and down this night; was stuck, recovered, stuck, and is now crushing and showing a good profit for the night. Playing well with good calls, good folds, one big flop 3 bet bluff failed though.

SB V1 ( E670)
BB Hero (E2100)
Live straddle V2 (E265)
UTG (600)


Hero is dealt A K

Utg limps, 3 folds. V1 raises to 25, Hero flats, V2 calls, UTG calls.

I know a 3bet is standard here, was concerned about UTG limping strong and V2 coming over the top. If there's any advocates of a flat here tell me, I do think its a 3bet though. Also the 5x has not been a standard open, anywhere from 15-20 is standard, V1 usually opening to E17.

Flop (E100) A 2 3

V1 bets 80, Hero raises to 210, V2 shoves 240, UTG folds, V1 shoves 640.
330 more to Hero; with 300 going in side pot.

Hero?? Have the feeling I can't/shouldn't fold this, but struggle to find a hand that villian 1 is doing this with that isn't beating me. Can see V2 shoving with FDs, don't think V1 is shoving with a worse Ace though. I don't think the strong raise pre can be 22, 33, or 45 for V1.
Thoughts on Flop appreciated please.

standard 3b, you don't really want this going multiway with these stack sizes.

why did you raise V1s bet otf? are you getting much value from worse As this way? guess you could be charging the other players to draw.

good chance your chopping with V1, but there is a chance he has a worse A. way this played out guess you can't fold

grunch: call

i don't think flatting in position after a slightly large raise is bad. i may have done the same. you can play post flop as is.

calling one shove is probably fine especially against a shorter stack... could very well be a flush draw, could be a worse A. calling 2 shoves is understandably more scary. gotta think villain 2 has a hand.

i think you're probably beat... but the stacks are just small enough and the ranges just wide enough that i think you have to call.

i haven't stoved this... just geusstimating.

Yeah the two shoves scared me, V2 jammed after a bet and raise in front of him. I do think he could easily be doing it with a FD, i have to call him for only another 30 regardless. V1 may be taking advantage of the knowledge that V2 may be drawing and try to iso jam.... He might also be thinking AQ is good after i just flatted pre

1. 3 bet pre for value

2. Just call the flop the first time, I don't know why you're raising to play for stacks here when you flatted pre

You said exactly what I was thinking as I read the action. It looks like an iso jam, though I think AQ is a bit unlikely. I think you are chopping.

Also I think you did the ol'e "whoops I was supposed to be aggressive pre okay I'll just go ahead and be aggressive post". Happens to the best of us.

I'm raising the cbet to charge draws. If I flat the 80 its very easy for UTG to come along with a hand like K Q or any other FD. V2 is probably shoving with a flush draw if I flat.
Chickasaw, when you say I'm probably beat what do you think is beating me?
Tell me when you want results.

And you still want to raise?

I want results!

I think you don't always have to raise preflop, but when you hit tptk what more do you want? Especially against these two guys. Personally, I flat the flop for pot control w two good players in the hand, both capable of putting you to a tough decision. Your hand has a ton of value. Generally, all the action on the flop can't be good, and if one of the villains was a rock/ABC/old guy stereotype it's an easy fold. But against the two players you describe you could easily be up against another big ace and a draw. Likely an A with a flush draw. Big ace trying to isolate. Too much money in the pot to fold. I call and remember to raise preflop next time with AK, especially if you raise in the same spot with a wide ranged.

Thanks for the advice.
Results:
V2 had A3 for 2 pair, so I lost the main pot. V2 had AK with the K so I was chopping with him with a freeroll for the backdoor nut flush.
A 3bet pre would have made it HU, makes any decision on that flop very easy as well.

Wish I had posted before results, but this is pretty much where I put it. You having the Ad is a big factor here for runner runner (more so you just have one of the flush outs). You are chopping or beating an iso move from AK or AQ. You can beat Arag 2-pr with runner runner also.

Only real scenario I was worried about was you v set v flush draw and both held/hit.

Not thrilled with raising such a large Flop bet with someone behind. If you smooth here you would be more likely to get away from it or see a Turn that would help you evaluate better. GL