A-Ko in the SB and UTG+1

Hi there, I played two hands with A-K, one in the SB and the other UTG+1.
Would like your advice on my play.

The first one is A-Ko in SB.

Preflop: Hero is in the SB with Ks Ad
3 folds, MP raises to 0.08, 4 folds, Hero calls 0.06, 1 fold.

Flop (0.20) Td 9d Kc
Hero bets 0.15, MP raises to 0.30, Hero calls 0.15.

Turn (0.80) 3d

How would you proceed further? Also, after calling the villain's raise from the SB preflop, would you have bet out on the flop or check-raised ?


This second hand was a quick one. I'd like to know how would you maximize your profit here?


Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Kd As
1 fold, Hero raises to 0.12, 3 folds, Button calls 0.12, 2 folds.

Flop (0.30) 3d 6h Kh
Hero bets 0.22, 1 fold

Hero shows Kd As

Hero wins 0.52 with One pair, Kings


In the first hand, I called the raise made by the villain. In the second hand, I was the preflop raiser.
My question is, how would you play A-Ko out of position, on a made flop when you are the preflop raiser versus when you call a raise from another player.

Any advice would be appreciated!

c/f turn

h2 is std

Would you have check raised the flop since you werent the preflop raiser?

Whats your thought process for c/f ing the turn? You have TPTK.

Not enough info to simply say c/f flop in hand 1. We picked up a ton of equity on the turn, so it depends on villains sizing. We check and he pots we have to fold. He 1/2 pots and that's another story yeah?

Originally Posted by xander_xage007

Whats your thought process for c/f ing the turn? You have TPTK.

We're likely behind here unless we have info about villain that says otherwise.

Dont really have a read on the opponent, but was more towards the tight side. Im not using a HUD, will buy the software as soon as possible.

Turn - 3d
I check, villian checks.

River - 4h
I bet the pot, he calls and shows a straight, K high.

i hand 1 i'd 3bet preflop against a 2nl opponent because most of these guys will call with far too many dominated Ax and Kx hands. i'd probably plan to C/C the turn with the nut draw because, based on his terrible flop sizing, i expect him to size his turn bet pretty small and terribly, giving us a good price to peel with out top pair+nut flush draw.

hand 2 i think you played well.

as far as your final question goes, i wouldn't look for blanket statement about "how to play AK as the preflop raiser contrasted with how to play it when someone else raises" but rather, learn to think about the range of hands your opponents can have and how we can best play our hand(s) against that strategy. posting hands for comment/criticism will help you do that. as will reading strategy posts.

btw i wouldn't necessarily assume we are behind due to villain's flop raise in hand 1. i find that many weaker players tend to raise very de-polarised ranges, cuz they generally think any top pair is the goods.

Hero shows ?
did you show at the table ?

Thanks for the reply rpm. So, it seems like its usually best to 3-bet A-K against loose 2nl players...and play later streets taking into consideration the hand ranges of the villain, and his betting style.

When he raised me on the flop, I straightaway thought he made his set. But yeah, as you said, players on this level will bet out with a wide range of hands. I have to change my mindset about being dominated when someone re-raises me.

Hand 1: I dont like the donk-bet against a loosey at 2nl, i find that it works best against tight passive and tight aggressive opponents. Just some general advice, a hand like TPTK is considered a small pot hand( depends on opponents ofc), so you should use pot-control to try and get a cheap showdown. You dont want to loose your stack with tptk.Just my 2c.

Hand 2: Standard.

@celtic: yeah, the hand went to showdown. Villian had J-Q. Made his straight on the flop and slow played me.

Stripclubjunkie: Thanks for your advice. I actually never thought about TPTK that way before. Will definitely keep that in mind.

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