A loose passive fish (80BB's) open limps. A TAG player (100BB's) raises the CO to $25. Hero has AK in SB. The TAG player isn't tricky at all. He plays very straight up. Probably is never calling my 3-bet IP (maybe with QQ/JJ), but may even fold JJ preflop! He's almost always 4-bet/folding vs me. There is another TAG in the BB similar to the CO one. I normally 3-bet in this spot (I play a lot online), but flatting seems surprisingly good. What do yal think?

Benefits of raising:
-Collect the $35ish in pot without a flop a lot. The TAG will fold a lot here.
-Don't have to play OOP vs both players post flop
-TAG in BB could potential enter the pot, then playing 4-way pot OOP vs everybody

Benefits of flatting:
-Keep the fish in the pot. Can get a ton of value flopping a pair of A's/pair of K's or better if the fish flops something
-Can certainly get value from the regular 1 or 2 streets. He has (AT+, KT+) in his range. I think this particular regular folds all of those hands except AK to a 3-bet.

Let me know first what you think the best play is preflop! ...

If you think flatting AK in this spot is better, then what about AA/KK/QQ/JJ/TT. What do you do with those hands?

I am 3-betting here. Being OOP 3 way (assuming donk will call) is not where I want to be. Hard to flop a hand we want to play a huge pot with here. Would be more inclined to flat if we had position, thought it would go heads up or were suited. Given the hand, I'm happy to take down $35 pre here. Also, any possibility the fish calls a 3-bet? Would love to get heads up.

Is the fish always folding to your raise?

If we can assume he is folding JJ to you, we will say he is only continuing with AA/KK/QQ. You have blockers to AA/KK reducing combos.

I think we can play really well post/pre against him if this is his range.

Raise. I feel like we get gold folds.

We can fish out if he has AA/KK or QQ by the turn I feel, you know? For sure by the river. We will know when we are beat and when we are good a lot

Would call my entire continuing range here.