2 Questionable AK Hands [Archive] - Two Plus Two Older Archives

CIncyHR

09-20-2005, 02:16 PM

Poker ACE wasnt working today so no reads.

In this first one Im not sure if I should be more aggro. Is a cap right preflop? Should I bet the flop? I obivously have ot chase it down to the river, but Im not sure if I was too passive.

Party Poker 0.50/1.00 Hold'em (10 handed) link (http://www.darksun.lunarpages.com/poker/)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K/images/graemlins/spade.gif, A/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG calls, 1 folds, UTG+2 calls, 1 folds, Hero raises, MP3 calls, CO 3-bets, 1 folds, SB calls, 1 folds, UTG calls, 1 folds, Hero calls, MP3 calls.

Flop: (17.00 SB) 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif (5 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks, MP3 checks, CO bets, SB folds, UTG calls, Hero calls, MP3 calls.

Turn: (10.50 BB) 9/images/graemlins/spade.gif (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks, MP3 checks, CO bets, UTG folds, Hero calls, MP3 calls.

River: (13.50 BB) 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif (3 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks, CO bets, Hero folds, MP3 folds.

Final Pot: 14.50 BB.

In this second one Im not too comfortable with how quickly I let this go, but Im really uncomfortable playing OOP right now. Any better suggestions?

Party Poker 0.50/1.00 Hold'em (10 handed) link (http://www.darksun.lunarpages.com/poker/)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, K/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
3 folds, MP1 calls, 2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB completes, Hero raises, MP1 calls, CO calls, Button calls, 1 folds.

Flop: (9.00 SB) Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif (4 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, CO calls, Button raises, Hero calls, MP1 calls, CO folds.

Turn: (8.00 BB) 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, Button bets, Hero folds....

09-20-2005, 02:55 PM

I wouldn't have called them questionable; they look all right. When you miss the flop with a premium hand like AK, you're evaluating your chance of winning the flop without a showdown, or improving to the best hand.

In hand 1, your chance of winning without a showdown is virtually nil, given the big pot, many opponents, and aggressive play by the CO. You had a draw to the nut straight, and a couple of dirty overcards. Calling was appropriate, as was folding on the river.

In hand 2, you didn't connect with the flop at all save the backdoor flush draw, but with that and two overcards, you would have been right to call a flop bet. Leading into four opponents is close to the borderline, in my mind, as folding all of them before a showdown is unlikely. Still, I like to lead in EP after raising PF, as checking (without check-raising) is pretty close to conceding defeat. After the turn falls, you're in trouble. Folding is appropriate.