Yet another AK hand
 

Level 2, no real read on the villain yet. I'm struggling on how large I should make these PF raises in the early rounds.

Comments on how I played it?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) converter

MP3 (t1840)
CO (t2015)
Button (t1545)
SB (t2715)
BB (t1170)
UTG (t750)
Hero (t1430)
MP1 (t1110)
MP2 (t925)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t90</font>, MP1 calls t90, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, CO calls t90, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB calls t75, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Flop: (t390) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t120</font>, MP1 folds, CO calls t120, SB folds.

Turn: (t630) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t300</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises to t600</font>, Hero calls t300.

River: (t1830) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, CO checks.

Final Pot: t1830

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

OPTION A: check/fold the flop
OPTION B: play it like you did.

I like both actually although this early I tend for option A

SAM

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

PF - ok
flop - not so ok
turn - ok
river - meh

I think 3x is fine opening from your position. Sadly, many a donk felt compelled to go for the ride.

On this flop - with THIS pot, you simply can't throw out a CB here. Far too many hands on deck, holding god knows what kind of "oooh, i have a draw!" type hands. You are only unnecessarily building a bigger pot, of which you will most likely not be part of past this flop.

Instead, I would check as well, despite being the PF raiser. With a pot this large, check/calling MAY be appropriate depending on the odds - but don't lose sight of YOUR improvement, improving you to only '2nd best' (flush, straight, etc.). Bottom line is, I'm check/folding a bunch of times here.

Turn: We have a small problem. With your CB and a call, we have a VERY large pot. Ideally, I'd like to represent the Ace here with 3/4ish pot kind of bet. But now it's a TON of chips. Continue with your &lt;1/2 probe stuff (here, because of the price), and you get pushed over/reraised too often. Does he have 2-pair now with the Ace? It would certainly explain the 1/2pot flop call. You have yourself in a jam. Had we gotten to the turn with say a 400ish sized pot, we could throw 300-350 at it, and - probably wisely, fold to a push/reraise. If not "wisely", than at least with some of our arse intact. At this point you are borderlined committed to this pot. I'd reluctantly call as well (though folding is very reasonable option).

DAMN....TEE-TIME IN 16MIN!!!! ........have to finish later

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

PF is fine. I would check/fold the flop most likely against 3 opponents. If I did continuation bet, I would bet 1/2 pot, less seems weak. I would push when raised on the turn for sure.

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

[ QUOTE ]
PF is fine. I would check/fold the flop most likely against 3 opponents. If I did continuation bet, I would bet 1/2 pot, less seems weak. I would push when raised on the turn for sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

What he said.

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

[ QUOTE ]
PF is fine. I would check/fold the flop most likely against 3 opponents. If I did continuation bet, I would bet 1/2 pot, less seems weak. I would push when raised on the turn for sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah.

you're gonna go broke on the river if you're behind, and i doubt villain is going to bluff off his stack. so make sure you stack him when you're ahead, and don't give a freebie.

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

So, when I swing and miss PF, what am I looking for in general when deciding on a continuation bet?

I know that every hand has specific analysis needed, but I'm looking for "guidelines" to meet when firing a c-bet.

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

Less opponents is always a good thing. Having it checked to you when you're last or second to last to act.

Mostly, it's about the combination of dry board + only one/two opponents.

Re: Yet another AK hand
 

Dont like your line at all. Raise more preflop (120). Check/fold flop but if you are gonna raise the flop at all make it at least 200. Turn is ok. Push river.