Interesting spot with AK

[pokeraussie]

This hand was played at a $1/$2 table (live). For this limit surprisingly the majority of players were on the tighter side, so I decided to get a bit creative with AK in UTG since the majority of the time I felt like I was getting everyone to fold.

I decide to limp, a player in MP makes it $15, another player in LP calls, action back on me and I decide to re-raise to $65 and happy to take it down right there. The original raiser pretty much insta 4-bets to $115. He was playing with a bit more then 100bb I believe. The other pre-flop caller folds and the action is on me.

This is a really sucky spot fairly readless. In game I am pretty much putting him on QQ+ here. Would you really min raise like this with AK? I would expect most players to shove AK since if you miss the flop its just really awkward.

I probably should have 3-bet less but don't hate the sizing considering I am happy to take down the pot straight away OOP. I am more posting this for the pre-flop decision.

JD you already know what hand I am talking about.

[leporello]

The major mistake is not a having a plan for what to do if he 4bets.

[pokeraussie]

The major mistake is not a having a plan for what to do if he 4bets.

True. Honestly I am very rarely 3-betting in these games so these situations don't come around very often, and if my memory serves me correctly this is the first time I have ever been 4-bet without me being the aggressor. I completely understand your point though.

[1331]

Info about the stacks?

[pokeraussie]

Info about the stacks?

I had him covered and he was playing with about $230.

[makeitso]

I don't think the 3bet size was bad really oop. Although I would never have played it this way your choices now are obviously fold or shove - I can't see calling for about 1/2 your stack oop. I think you could probably add JJ to his range in a live game, especially when things have been tight, I find people get super excited over any decent pocket pair. I doubt he does this w/AQ so really the best you're hoping for is JJ (discounted somewhat)or QQ, maybe AK. I think over 100 bb on a tight table its a fold.

BTW I think your reasoning for limping is flawed as well, you should consider why limping because everyone is folding is a bad idea. I think a better idea would be opening your range in EP if you are getting everyone to fold every time you raise.

Edit: On the 3 bet size, I don't think the size was the issue, I think 3 betting was the issue. The size is fine as it sets up a nice shove vs a 4 bet if that's the plan.

[pokeraussie]

BTW I think your reasoning for limping is flawed as well, you should consider why limping because everyone is folding is a bad idea. I think a better idea would be opening your range in EP if you are getting everyone to fold every time you raise.

That's a good point.

Edit: On the 3 bet size, I don't think the size was the issue, I think 3 betting was the issue. The size is fine as it sets up a nice shove vs a 4 bet if that's the plan.

That makes sense. Considering I was fairly readless I was playing guessing games on his stacking off range and basing the decision on reads alone, which is never a good situation. So in this situation you would include AK you can see him 4-betting this hand for around 50% of his stack?

[parttimepoker]

Looks like there's about 280-290 in the middle effectively (his 4b is the same as a shove given that he's never folding to your shove) and you have about 135 remaining, so you're getting 2.1-1.

AK vs a range of JJ+ and AK+, you're about a 60-40 dog. Shove is fine, although not a huge +ev move. The wider his range gets, the better off you are.

However, if it's actually a tight-tight player and the range is QQ+, you're a 70-30 dog. Shove is -EV.

[pokeraussie]

It seems pretty ridiculous to put a $1/$2 player strictly on QQ+ but honestly in game his 4-bet min raise scares me more then a shove. Can you seriously put AK in his range? It's easy to say have a better idea about his stacking range before 3-betting so you have a plan, but playing live this can take a serious amount of time to figure out. I am thinking he would be calling/shoving in this spot significantly more then taking this line with AK...

[jdwanchalk]

You should never have limped and mucking is the only move at this point. It's much easier (though not ideal) to call a 3-bet after you open than it is to be in this spot. You also save money by doing this.