I find these situations tricky and would love some advice on a couple AK scenarios with different stack sizes and flops. And the differences in approaches? I know its a fair bit to ask, so any input would be good, thanks.


UTG is a standard, regular player.


AK on the BTN with 30bbs/50bbs

UTG raises 3, CO calls BTN 3bets to 10, UTG calls, CO folds
Pot - 24
Flop - 6d, 3s, 2h
UTG checks

What do you do? Do you bet? And how much? What happens if you're called? (Is there is ~50% chance of being called?)

Turn - 8d

What turn cards does your hand/perceived hand like?

Is there any sense in flatting AK pre there with 30bb?
Is there any sense in checking down AK with SD value?


Different Flop

AK on the BTN with 30bbs/50bbs

UTG raises 3, CO calls BTN 3bets to 10, UTG calls, CO folds
Pot - 24
Flop - Qd, 8h, 7s
UTG checks

What do you do? Do you bet? And how much? What happens if you're called? (Is there is <50% chance of being called?)

Turn - 8d

What turn cards does your hand/perceived hand like?

It would help if you added the exact ICM situation and the exact AK combo you had.

You are the 50bb right? With 30bb I prefer to jam AKo.

Flop: 6d 3s 2h
I would bet small (10-20%) for value. The flop is really bad for V you are good betting range small. If you are called you can check the 8d, except for AdKx or AxKd hands.

Flop: Qd 8h 7s
This one is not as good as the first one but you are good. The SPR is awkward I would check or just go all in now. If I check it's hard for me to fold any turn.


It's a weird spot because UTG with 30bbs shouldn't flat a lot, and if he flat you are committed. I would consider jamming AKo if the eff stack is <40bb

All stack sizes here matter. Does CO have more than 30 bb's? More than 150 bb's?

With a UTG open and given a caller my standard 3-bet size would be 12bb's but since that is 40% effective stack I would jam. Unless CO has > 150 bb's. CO's call of the open UTG raise could be a hand like 88-JJ which in theory could call a jam. Its happened to me a number of times. So I would rather bet a decent % of CO's stack to invoke fear.

As played HU with a 632r flop vs a UTG open I would normally bet 7 bb's and then if called jam the turn. We are 3-betting mostly with a PP here (at least that is what UTG should be thinking). UTG doesn't have KK+ and probably not QQ.

As played on a Q87r flop I normally would bet 10 bb's because the Q favors our range. But that would be more than 40% effective stack so I would just jam.

Agreed. I'm also unsure the way the hand is written whose stacks are what size.

Thanks

CO stack was ~40bbs. For Q87r do you mean jam the turn or flop?

So a fair amount of commitment. Getting it in eventually, no matter what?

What if its just an UTG raise with no callers, generally would you 3bet or jam?

I would jam the flop rather than bet 40% effective stack

Sorry UTG stack was ~50bbs & CO stack~40bbs

The scenario was mainly to get a general feel of how to play AK here, when you miss the flop on these type of boards

You have 30BB? Just shove pre then.

Maybe you can 3-bet smaller with AKs but with only 10x the open in your stack I don't think you should have many non-all-in squeezes.