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[shant]

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I raise this flop. Smaller pairs are calling you down.

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The accuracy of the second statement would appear to be the real point of contention here.

fwiw i disagree

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True, sometimes a 5x hand won't look you up, but you would be surprised how much 77 or 99 takes the hand to showdown, especially because I raise these flops without an Ace a lot.

one thing though: lets say sometimes they (5x and PP) call down, sometimes they peel the flop and fold the turn.

when you just call down, intending to bet the river if checked to:

you are guaranteed 2.5BB.

when you raise the flop and then bet the streets and they call down, you get 3BB, 0.5BB better than just calling it down yourself

but when you raise the flop and they peel and fold, you only manage 1 BB, 1.5BB worse than just calling it down yourself.

this means that in order to be a better play, you need to have them call down >75% of the time.

this doesnt even bother to factor in the times the vil has an ace, where we cant lay and lose a lot more than the 2.5BB we would have lost by just calling down to begin with.

[shant]

When you have AK and this exact action takes place, how do you play the hand? If I raise QQ, AK, flush draws, and flopped full houses on this flop, I am setting myself up to be paid off a lot more. I'm not sure if opponents at this level are paying attention but as you move up this is more and more important.

Also, I don't have much problem laying this down if I'm 3-bet. The times they do 3-bet a 5x hand, a flush draw, or 77 are so infrequent I don't think you need to worry about it. It is unfortunate you don't have a read now, but sooner or later a player making plays like that will make himself known to you and you will be able to take advantage.

[Aaron W.]

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When you have AK and this exact action takes place, how do you play the hand? If I raise QQ, AK, flush draws, and flopped full houses on this flop, I am setting myself up to be paid off a lot more. I'm not sure if opponents at this level are paying attention but as you move up this is more and more important.

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What about call-call-raise with AK and call-call-call with QQ? This allows villain to bluff the most and puts him in a spot where he's just one bet from looking you up, making him more likely to call. In the back of my mind, I have this hand which I posted not too long ago.

[shant]

Aaron,

I occasionally take a call, call, raise line too. But I usually do that when there has been another raise before the flop so I can put my opponent on a range where I am way ahead or tied with them and want them to keep betting their JJ-KK or AQ. It also helps if I have a read on the opponent as a strong player who can read hands and will lay down to aggression. I don't think this situation is anywhere close to that one.