AK, AQ etc. and continuation bets at micro limits

I always thought that while alot of AK profit comes from building a pot and limiting a field preflop and then either being ahead with a pair or with a high card, alot of it also comes from continuation betting at the flop after you miss sometimes and making the opponent fold.

Most of the time at my limit (i play 5NL) people fold to continuation bets on the flop and i tend to make them at least 75% of the time until people start to call then i cut down.

At some tables people call with as little as bottom pair which drains off alot of chips.

My question how do you play these hands when people dont fold to the continuation bets. Is it still most profitable to raise preflop then check/ fold on the flop or do they become limping -> counterplay-style hands. I really feel im not getting these hands to work anywhere near as well as they should at my stakes.

An AOk post would be appreciated here too :)

Thanks

Here is where I would a say a read would come into play, how did the bet PF, did they just call or raise you, if you were at a Late position what did they do PF.

What flopped? Something possibly to give a TPTK?

Its hard to say, but I would try and rethink what happened before the continuation bet, and analyze what this person could be holding because of course you will not be able to get everyone to fold all the time.

I'm also a newb but I hope this might of helped in someway.

:)

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Originally Posted by Pelion

I always thought that while alot of AK profit comes from building a pot and limiting a field preflop and then either being ahead with a pair or with a high card, alot of it also comes from continuation betting at the flop after you miss sometimes and making the opponent fold.

Most of the time at my limit (i play 5NL) people fold to continuation bets on the flop and i tend to make them at least 75% of the time until people start to call then i cut down.

At some tables people call with as little as bottom pair which drains off alot of chips.

My question how do you play these hands when people dont fold to the continuation bets. Is it still most profitable to raise preflop then check/ fold on the flop or do they become limping -> counterplay-style hands. I really feel im not getting these hands to work anywhere near as well as they should at my stakes.

An AOk post would be appreciated here too :)

Thanks

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If you don't hit on the flop, it's just A high :(
If you have one caller or max 2, then fire out a continuation bet and try and take it down. More callers and it's probably not worth it - just check/fold.

Most of your profits come from you nailing TPTK while the sucker with Ax or KQ calls along. Not sure if continuation bets (where you haven't hit anything) on their own are highly profitable, esp at low limits. BUT they keep people guessing and make them more likely to call when you do hit the flop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Djanvk

Here is where I would a say a read would come into play, how did the bet PF, did they just call or raise you, if you were at a Late position what did they do PF.

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I am not talking about a specific opponent here im talking about how to play the big unpaired hands preflop when you are on a table when people will call postflop with any draw no matter the odds (often including overcards)


I dont make continuation bets when alot of people call me preflop or when ALOT of high cards flop. I prefere to try a continuation bet (usually pot sized) when 1 face card comes, and usually not when 2 of a suit come as people with a flush draw would probably call any size bet

Its not a good idea to limp AK AQ IMO. When you do hit you want to be able to play them aggro. without worrying if someone hit two pair because there is 9 players limped to the flop.

I pretty much always c-bet the flop with my AK, AQ and I've been keeping track of all my c-bets, so far its showing a profit.

If you find players are calling you after you c-bet then it seems your only solution to not leak more chips is just dont continuation bet. Watch out for players who you see calling suspected continuation bets and dont c-bet flops against these players while continuing to do it to the rest of the table.

Bet flop then you can check/fold/down.Save those bets when you miss on the turn as well.

Two things about AK/AQ and other unmade hands you have to remember.
1. Raise preflop to kick out weaker hands just trying to see a flop
2. They arent made hands so if you hit jack you have jack and are going to win jack.

The continuation bet works when the flop looks like it could have hit you. There will be people who call you down when the hit bottom pair on a flop that has no face cards. Yes they are calling stations and you will lose hands to them where you try to bluff, but they will probably pay you when you do hit the flop.
For me, id continuation bet a flop that you could have hit, or at least so your opponent thinks. If its obvious you missed then dont be afraid to throw your hand away if they dont give you odds to chase A/K/Qs. Yes, its nice to have these hands but remeber if you miss the flop they are 82o pretty much useless.
so, raise preflop bet flops that your opp may think you have hit check/fold flops you miss. You dont need to continuation bet every flop but you need to learn when your beat or someone doesnt believe you hit the flop.