Short Handed AKo

STR82ACE

Saw this theoritical hand on another site, and not sure I agree with their actions. Would like to know what others think.

Shorthanded limit game, 6 players, hero is UTG with AKo, raises
Called by button and big blind.

Flop comes K92, 2 clubs and a heart. BB checks, hero bets, gets raised by button. BB folds.

Hero's action? and please describe why? I'll post the other sites' answer after a couple of posts, but I'm curious what others here are going to do.

DrTyore

There is no way to answer this question with the information given.

- button's tendencies? (aggressive / trappy / maniac)
- stack sizes?
- Tourney or cash game?

Given what I *DO* have, I would likely re-pop it to see if he smooth calls / re-pops again. If he calls, I get wary, he re-pops i throw it away to the successful set mining... Of course, this depends on that stuff above.

Mark

actyper

Raise for sure. Usually don't see a set raise until the turn. If I was the button I would raise there with any K, any 9, flush draw. I'd pretty much play AK pretty strong in this spot.

STR82ACE

Other than being a cash game, you got all the info made available. Like I said, this is a THEORITICAL hand, so just assume ABC style of play.

STR82ACE

I was hoping for some more opinions before posting the answer, but c'est le vie I guess.

For the record, I personally would pump it as well, and build a bigger pot.

here's the 'correct' answer:

"Call, for now. In a full game, we have been advocating raising with top pair, top kicker especially in raised pots when there are two-flushes and cards in the playing zone like king-nine. But in a shorthanded game, the likelihood of your lone opponent having a drawing hand is less than normal. For example, with this flop, it is less likely that your opponent has two clubs and is on a draw when he was one of only five players dealt in than if he was one of ten players dealt in. Your top pair, top kicker is a powerful holding in a shorthanded setting like this. Furthermore, this is now a heads-up situation, so there are no other opponents to eliminate by raising. Plan on pulling the trigger after he bets the turn."

While I agree with the last part, I don't necessarily agree with the cold call up front. I'm looking to either take down the pot now and give my opponent a chance to catch a club draw or to improve to 2pr with a 9x holding.

Opinions on the formal answer?

ReefAquarium

STR82ACE;147529 wroteSaw this theoritical hand on another site, and not sure I agree with their actions. Would like to know what others think.

Shorthanded limit game, 6 players, hero is UTG with AKo, raises
Called by button and big blind.
POT=6sb
Flop comes K92, 2 clubs and a heart. BB checks, hero bets, gets raised by button. BB folds.
POT=9sb...
Hero's action? and please describe why? I'll post the other sites' answer after a couple of posts, but I'm curious what others here are going to do.

Why you don't repop the flop

Betting out on the flop tells the button... *nothing* about your hand.

Re-raising 1sb into a 9sb will let your opponent call with .... any draw...

So why bet here? It won't protect your hand...

Check raising on the turn will force him to call a Big bet into a 5.5 bb pot ...

Is it okay to give a cheap card here?

Yup..

Not too much can come .... an A is an overcard but you have one... a JQT can come giving a straight but not too much chance of that...

you're foregoing a sb on the flop to try for 2 big bets on the turn.

If the villain is passive you can bet out on the turn ... earning 1 big bet rather than a small bet.

Is this a free card play? You're less likely to run into that in a 6max game...

actyper

Makes sense

ReefAquarium

By the way, I really hate the cold call preflop too.
Maybe cold call with AQs? KQs? AJs?
Maybe... nah...

actyper

I think up front meaning post flop, pre would just be pansy ass with any of those holdings.

ReefAquarium

By the way, what's everyone's cold calling range on the button from an UTG raise in 6-max?

It's probably pretty small.... right?

actyper

0%. I don't cold call on the button

STR82ACE

actyper;147897 wroteI think up front meaning post flop, pre would just be pansy ass with any of those holdings.

Cold calling the raise post flop, yes. I'm still not sure a call is the 'more correct' answer at this stage. My preference is to come back with a re raise and make him pay to draw out on me. Still, I do see the validity of the call...get more bang for the buck on the turn bet, but I would prefer the re raise.