AQs facing raise from poster

[Palantine]

Villain sat down with a 44 big blind stack and posted under the gun.

Questions:
1. I assume a three bet is standard here, correct? I figure to be ahead of his initial raising range. Also, I don't want to smooth call out of position.
2. After his shove, I'd be calling 3.20 to win 4.40, or 1.375 to one. If my math is right, I'd have to have over 70 percent equity versus his range to profitably call. So, despite his donkish behavior so far (utg post, short stack, etc), I think a fold is in order. Are my math and my thinking correct?
3. What do you think of my three bet sizing? I guess 3x is usually standard but I'm starting to think that a smaller three bet might be better in this case. My reasons are that a smaller three bet will open up the bottom of his calling range. Also, I think a smaller three bet will also discourage most players from smooth calling with monster hands (AA, KK, QQ), since they probably won't want to leave a lot of money behind. Since I'm folding to a four bet, if what I believe is true, then a smaller three bet would allow me to play more perfectly against my opponent's range, in addition to being cheaper.

Sorry if this is a lot of questions for such a simple situation, but this hand really got me thinking. I'm especially curious to hear what more experienced players think about the bet sizing question.

PokerStars Game #19654134395: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/08/16 - 04:20:16 (ET)

Table 'Isolda II' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: LuckyJerry ($23.95 in chips)
Seat 3: darkprince01 ($11.55 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero ($18.95 in chips)
Seat 5: SirHase ($10 in chips)
Seat 6: Villain ($4.40 in chips)
darkprince01: posts small blind $0.05
Hero: posts big blind $0.10
Villain: posts big blind $0.10

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Qs As]
SirHase: folds
Villain: raises $0.30 to $0.40
LuckyJerry: folds
darkprince01: folds
Hero: raises $0.80 to $1.20
Villain: raises $3.20 to $4.40 and is all-in
Hero: folds

Uncalled bet ($3.20) returned to Villain
Villain collected $2.45 from pot
Villain: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.45 | Rake $0
Seat 1: LuckyJerry (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: darkprince01 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Hero (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: SirHase folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Villain collected ($2.45)
[/b]

[AdamThePirate]

I would personally be very wary of entering a pot that has been rasied with AQs / AJs - most likely those hands are dominated already. I like to raise if the pot has been limped/folded around.

[Erpel]

To follow on what Adam said:
http://www.flopturnriver.com/Small-S...y-Preflop.html

In this guide Renton mentions how you should call a raise before you with AQs, but fold AQo. Worth thinking about

1) I don't mind the 3bet since you are 5-way, but you are out of position - this way you just end up oop in a bigger pot. Either way with his stack size you'll be looking for any A or Q on the flop and getting all in with it. I think if you 3bet you should probably be calling the all-in pre-flop.
2) After his shove you are calling $3.20 to win $5.70. That means you need 3.2 / (5.7+3.2) = 36% equity against his range.
3) If you 3bet oop the bet needs to be bigger (around 4x) to encourage more folds. Don't get tied to a 3x sized 3bet. A PSB raise is to 3x the previous bet + small and big blinds if none of you are in them. It's not unusual to see people bet smaller (3x) in position and bigger (4x) out of position.

You're thinking about how your bet sizing manipulates the hand ranges you are playing against and this is good - I'm not sure you're arriving at the right conclusions, but keep up this type of thinking. Also I suggest reading up on SPRs which also relates to what you're trying to do here.

Btw, about calling the all-in. This could be a poor player with a short stack who got a monster - or who thinks he can bluff with KJ. It could be a decent player with a clearly formulated short stack strategy who does this with any pocket pair and AK (which gives you 39.3% equity)