Leak in my game? AK/AQ play

[Santocubs]

I want some serious advice about c-betting with AK or AQ after missing the flop. I have been my c-betting every time and getting killed by getting called. It was working well at $2NL, but not at $10NL

When should you c-bet when you miss? When should you not? I can honestly say I'ts not working out for me...doing it all the time. Other players are picking up on it or something.

Should I not do it in EP? or against 3 or more callers? Should I be raising more than 4xBB to get down to 1-2 or callers if 3-4 are calling at 4x. I need some strong advice.

[cardsman1992]

Hey Santo!

I actually think I sat at a table with you yesterday. I was either mjschell or c-man92 on Hollywood. First piece of advice, standard opener at $10 needs to be .50. Make it $1 if everyone and their brother is limping. I cbet almost all the time in position. If I get called I slow down, but always in position. OOP, I cbet 100% of the time against 3 players, and probably 50% against 4 or more. Once again, slowing down if called. Read the board because everyone chases flushes at this level. If it gets there, be prepared to fold. I said in another post today that you make so much money at $10 NL just by outckicking your opponent, you have to play these hands. The number of times you run into AQ vs AK will more than be compensated by the number of times you run into AQ vs A4. The other thing I would say is not to play any A less than AT for pair value, or unless the flop smacks you in the face. Suited As for cheap are okay, but play them for flushes, not pairs. And try hard not to laugh when you see what these guys flip over.....

GL,

Cards

[evovolvo]

Heads up I always c-bet unless he's a 80/2 calling station. With 2 callers I c-bet only in position. With 3 or more I don't c-bet.

[Santocubs]

So far I've only played at Paradise...so we haven't played at the same table. Thanks for the advice...I will start raising a little more...definitely still c-bet HU...or even with 2-callers. I think I need to pay attention more to who calls c-bets. OOP I may not c-bet quite as much. Just need to expirement with it. FWIW, Paradise has a pretty solid group at $10NL...only about 35% hands flopped. $2NL has about 50%...that play is sooo much easier to beat. I'm not making as much on the $10 tables...but I am trying to improve my game. Also, I need to check the turn when I'm loaded, so I can hit em with a check raise...that'll get em off my back.

[IowaSkinsFan]

The calling range is going to be huge at 10nl so try not to c-bet as much. Make them when you have a read, You'll have less variance if you do more ABC.

[Werddown]

I play 6-max $10NL on Stars.

In late position with no limpers I usually make it 4x, if there are 1-2 limpers I will make it 5-6x. In EP I'll make it 4-5x , possibly more if the table requires it, or if I've been raising alot of hands lately.

The texture of the flop and the # of players in the hand are the most important factors to me when c-betting... In a pot with 1-2 opponents I almost always c-bet... If I'm up against 3+ opponents, I will c-bet if I get a low rainbow uncoordinated flop (repping the overpair).. And slow way down if I get a call. With 3+ people in the hand if the board is coordinated in some way or a T J Q comes out I usually just take the free card (or fold if they bet into me, as long as its a substantial bet.. I'm not folding to minbets). I will also c-bet if it's checked to me and I have some type of backdoor draw and 2 overs, which happens alot... When I hit my backdoor draw they never see it coming, and I can usually stack a weaker hand... When I pair one of my overs its usually good enough to win at showdown.

Even when my c-bets are getting picked off alot I still like to stay aggressive... Its great for your image and they'll play big pots with you with weaker hands, especially at $10 Nl.. I cant count the number of times I've heard someone say "Eh, its only $10" on those tables.

[martindcx1e]

the frequency of your c-bets should be proportional to your FE (fold equity). the more FE you have the more you should c-bet and vice versa. the more opponents you are up against the less FE you have. the more draw-heavy the flop is the less FE you have. also, the pots you play with position should be larger than the pots you play OOP. i c-bet more when in position. one thing i usually don't do (which can be exploited like everything else in poker) is c-bet with no outs (meaning you just have overcards) OOP vs. more than 1 opponent. hope this helps. some flops i am weary of c-betting on are....

2 3 4 & others like this. anyone with a 5 or pocket pair will call you + the other hands bad players call with (overcards, an A or 6, etc.)

6 7 8 double or triple suited & others like this. very draw-heavy board. the more players the more dangerous it is to bet this flop.

edit: also just because your 4x pfr gets called a couple times by 3 or 4 people does not mean you have to up your raise. it's possible that they just caught good pre-flop cards against you each time. if it's very obvious that the table is crazy loose and 4x raises get called very regularly then think about moving it up a notch.

[The Izebox]

"also just because your 4x pfr gets called a couple times by 3 or 4 people does not mean you have to up your raise"

correct, just make sure your preflop raises are increased if people have limped into you. I advocate 4x bb + an additional bb for each limper.

This will reduce the amount of callers into each pot while increasing the effectivness of your c-bets

[martindcx1e]

"also just because your 4x pfr gets called a couple times by 3 or 4 people does not mean you have to up your raise"

correct, just make sure your preflop raises are increased if people have limped into you. I advocate 4x bb + an additional bb for each limper.

This will reduce the amount of callers into each pot while increasing the effectivness of your c-bets

this can be effective. however it can get very expensive if you get more than 1 caller to your 6BB PFR when you miss w/ your AQ/AK.