How well did I play AQ off in small blind?

[Vee Quiva]

Thoughts on all streets appreciated. Especially looking for comments on the river. Opponent was a little loose and a little aggressive.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, Hero calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP2 calls.

Flop: (7 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP2 folds, Button calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB

[Nick C]

Preflop, I think I would 3-bet the raise from the LAG Button.

The rest of the hand looks good to me.

On the river, I'd expect to be shown A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] or K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] or K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] or 66 or something, but I would call.

LAGs will sometimes make this raise with 88 or AT, especially now that there's a 3-flush on the board.

[Vee Quiva]

Is that standard to 3 bet AQ offsuit out of position?

[Nick C]

No, I don't think it's exactly standard. (Versus a raise from a tight EP player, for instance, I would just muck.)

My thinking in this case is that the Button is a LAG, there's a good chance your hand is better than his, getting rid of BB wouldn't be such a bad thing (and maybe it'll take a 3-bet to do it), and MP2 may decide to drop out when it's two more back to him, which I wouldn't mind.

Edit: Also, the chances are pretty good that you have the best hand.

[Piiop]

[ QUOTE ]
Is that standard to 3 bet AQ offsuit out of position?

[/ QUOTE ]

Since you described the original raiser as "a little loose and a little aggressive" and he's raising 1 limper on the button, I would be inclined to 3bet. Your AQo will often be better than his hand and getting the lead in the hand somewhat counteracts your positional disadvantage. Also, it's likely to get it headsup which you don't mind, and if it doesn't the limper almost definitely has worse hand than you so it's not terrible for you if he calls. You also don't really want to encourage the BB to come along by only calling.

[akvsaq]

I liked the way you playes it postflop. However I would definitely 3 bet PF if he's loose aggressive. If its a TA, I would just call because you already have a bet in, in any other position with AQ vs a TA raise, I muck. Loose PF raiser, I 3 bet, never just calling.

[Webster]

I think you are putting to much stock in a 31 hand read for 3 betting.

Heck - I had a V$P of 24% last night in 130 hands and I average in the 16% range. I would look like a LAG. LOL

I think the hands looks good and he hit his flush, but ya gotta call on the river BUT - that could be yet another leak since him raising almost certainly tells you he has better the top pair.

[Kailia Marie]

[ QUOTE ]

I liked the way you playes it postflop. However I would definitely 3 bet PF if he's loose aggressive. If its a TA, I would just call because you already have a bet in, in any other position with AQ vs a TA raise, I muck. Loose PF raiser, I 3 bet, never just calling.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi akvsaq,

At 3/6 the value of the SB is virtually worthless, so it should have no bearing on your decision to play the hand or not. This is an extremely important concept to remember when playing 3/6.

[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]Kailia

[Octopus]

[ QUOTE ]
Is that standard to 3 bet AQ offsuit out of position?

[/ QUOTE ] I think it is not a big mistake to 3-bet with lots of hands you are going to play in the SB facing a button raise. Calling here is not too different from cold-calling. Buttons range of hands is sufficiently large that I would rather be against just him than against him BB and the limper. (And if I have reason to believe that his range is not that big, then I have no problem laying AQo down in the SB in a 3/6 game.)

[Webster]

OH - I'm sorry - I thought he was on the button - YEA - 3-bet for sure. oops!