Fourbetting AK preflop.

[F Paulsson]

Versus regs at smallstakes/midstakes - are you fourbetting AK for value or as a bluff? Assume 100-130bb effective stacks, cash games.

 

[BelgoSuisse]

Also, illegal poll as it does not offer cake and bastard as options.

 

[F Paulsson]

I'm actually looking to avoid deeper discussion on the topic at the moment because I want to give people a chance to expose some flaws in their thinking about the game. Chances are that if they feel they can just read the answer, they won't actually challenge the way they think about a very common big-pot scenario. I'm happy to have an in-depth discussion after the question has been up for awhile.

 

[TopDonk]

I would not be 4betting AK >100BBs for value ever I dont think and I can really see myself doing it as a bluff either. but if I had to choose one it would be as a bluff.

 

[BelgoSuisse]

I'll return with some thoughts on this later, but if you (not belgo, the rest of you) think that the question has now been completely answered, then ask yourself if you feel that you're completely comfortable with the difference between his answer and "bluffing."

Sorry for the fast answer... It's a really good question, actually. You're rarely getting called by worse, you're mostly folding hands that you beat, and yet it's super standard and +EV to 4bet AK vs. a reg 100bb deep.

 

[BelgoSuisse]

I would not be 4betting AK >100BBs for value ever I dont think and I can really see myself doing it as a bluff either. but if I had to choose one it would be as a bluff.

So what do you do with AK in this spot? Fold it, flat call?

 

[F Paulsson]

I edited your first post, Belgo. Let me know if you want me to change it back.

 

[BelgoSuisse]

I edited your first post, Belgo. Let me know if you want me to change it back.

No, it's fine. It was kind of a thread killer. And anyway your question is more interesting than my answer to it.

 

[S93]

Its depends on the villain(ie some villains have a huge 3bet range and call fairly wide so we basicly doing it for value against them but other have a decent 3bet but only a tiny calling range so where making our money when they fold).
Honestly cant we just do it for both?(i realize thats a dumb statment) but if we 4bet we could fold out small pairs where fliping against but MAYBE indice a jam from stuff like AQ.

Meh im rambling so im just gonna say bastard.

 

[TopDonk]

So what do you do with AK in this spot? Fold it, flat call?

I probably should not of answered as I play only MTTs so I very rarely if ever am 100BBs+ deep but I guess I would flat 3bet alot of the time and the more I think about it Vs reg I guess I could 4bet against an aggresive reg.

You are probably right tho alot of the time we are only getting called by worse and folding out hands that we beat

 

[fulltiltpackers]

I would say both. Obviously unlike pocket pair you are not guaranteed anything so it would perhaps be a semi-bluff. But, like others have said, AK dominates so many hands that it really is for value. There are only going to be a couple hands that will have AK dominated, and I think most people would be unable to help themselves reraising all-in with those hands (AA,KK).

 

[BelgoSuisse]

There are only going to be a couple hands that will have AK dominated, and I think most people would be unable to help themselves reraising all-in with those hands (AA,KK).

Does that mean you plan to 4bet and then fold if villain 5bet shoves?

 

[LuckyChippy]

Does that mean you plan to 4bet and then fold if villain 5bet shoves?

Lol please don't say yes.

EDIT: With AK and 100BB stacks I often like to make my 4-bet a shove. People flatting 4-bets tilt me so bad.

 

[WVHillbilly]

If we're 4betting AK preflop isn't there basically always enough dead money in the pot to make it a value shove?

 

[LuckyChippy]

If we're 4betting AK preflop isn't there basically always enough dead money in the pot to make it a value shove?

I agree, we pick up a lot of dead money. Hands that will 3-bet us not on the button are AQ/J KQ 1010-QQ. All these will likely fold to a fourbet (QQ if he's a mong). If he's 3 betting on the button he can be doing it with so many hands it must be profitable?

 

[fulltiltpackers]

Does that mean you plan to 4bet and then fold if villain 5bet shoves?

If I was reraised allin and I had AK I think I would fold, yes, depending on the player. I would much rather put my money somewhere postflop or preflop with a pocket pair. Of course AK will very rarely be a big underdog, but chances are your going to need to catch something unless the person going allin is a fish.

 

[Teebone]

why not 3bet shove? Most hands that re-raise us preflop will call

 

[LuckyChippy]

why not 3bet shove? Most hands that re-raise us preflop will call

Are you talking tournaments? This is a cash game situation and 3-bet shoving would be pretty bad.

 

[S93]

If I was reraised allin and I had AK I think I would fold, yes, depending on the player. I would much rather put my money somewhere postflop or preflop with a pocket pair. Of course AK will very rarely be a big underdog, but chances are your going to need to catch something unless the person going allin is a fish.

If you raise 4xBB, get 3bet to 12BB and then 4bet to 30BB your allways geting the right price to call a shove(except maybe if villain 3bets/folds ATC but only 4bets AA.how often do u have that read on some one?) with 100BB stacks.
If your gonna play for stacks isnt decited when u get 5bet shoved on, it should be decited when u get 3bet, then u should either fold or 4bet/call imo.

 

[F Paulsson]

why not 3bet shove? Most hands that re-raise us preflop will call

In this scenario, we don't have the option to 3-bet; we can only fourbet. If you meant "4bet shove" then I'm not at all sure what games you're playing, because that's decidedly not the case in any games I've played, ever.

 

[c9h13no3]

Semi-bluff IMO. Still a bluff tho.

 

[pifan]

if my assement of the origional poll is correct, we are trying to get our whole stack in preflop correct. or getting villan to fold to a 4 bet.

the question is do we 4 bet as a bluff or for value. so arnt we asking do we want a 5 bet, or do we want a fold from villan.( I really dont know how villan could flat a 4 bet)

sorry i play micro stakes 5 bets accur very infrequently.


so my opionion might be skewed but i really want a 5 bet or a 5 bet shove so i have the opertunity to get all my chips in preflop, so i can see all 5 cards. at the stakes i play, I think AK is ahead in this situation often enough to be profitable.

 

[adsthepro123]

AK

You have to play ak aggessively pre flop because i have seen a load of flops with ak when you completely mis and cannot call a big bet so my strategy for beginners is to either keep the pot small to minimise loses or either go all in
adsthepro

 

[c9h13no3]

Oh, btw, AK is a drawing hand and is an underdog to pocket 2's. (Just wanted to get that out of the way.)

 

[WVHillbilly]

Oh, btw, AK is a drawing hand and is an underdog to pocket 2's. (Just wanted to get that out of the way.)

Yeah, I don't like to invest too much with it preflop, so I can get away cheaper when I miss.