Micro Stakes Online NL Poker Forums

I feel quite hopeless about improving much on my own (confirmation of my thoughts from a whiny post before) but will try to learn something before getting a coach, for now I will start posting some hands. How many people get far without a coach these days that's how I look at it.


What do you think about AKo pre flop SPECIFICALLY at 10NL against unknowns/TAG players with small sample. I think I'm going to far now. I think I'll change to calling preflop.

IF my memory is correct I hardly ever see shoves with QQ and JJ preflop at 10NL, and when I shove QQ it's almost always up against AA, KK and AK

Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 1721440
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BTN: $5.14
SB: $10.32
BB: $10.10
Hero (UTG): $9.90
CO: $8.95

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is UTG with A K
Hero raises to $0.30, 2 folds, SB raises to $1, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.40, SB raises to $10.32 all in, 1 fold

Now this was after I just sat down at a table and couldn't even call, because I hardly ever expect to see pairs worse than KK unless a known bad player. So could I switch to calling preflop with AK?

It's nonsense to 4bet to 24bb and fold when he shoves with 99bb effective. If you aren't comfortable calling the shove, then call the 3bet or fold to the 3bet.

Normally a SB raiser, especially if you're an unknown will have a very strong range here. I would just call his 3bet preflop.

Yeah, it's the first time I've done that with AK, because of the thought of what gets shoved all in. Then I knew it was very wrong. I don't like calling a 3bet against me being I'm UTG so fold I guess, that that feels wrong too!

Normally a SB raiser, especially if you're an unknown will have a very strong range here. I would just call his 3bet preflop.

Alright and if no A or K on flop?

Alright and if no A or K on flop?

This is what is bad about just calling. You are going to be put in a tough spot on a lot of flops.

I think you should be either getting it in or just folding to his 3bet. Based on the fact that he is 3betting your UTG range I would be more inclined to fold. I would estimate that his 3bet range here preflop is super strong.

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 39.104% 36.02% 03.09% 19735570 1690824.50 { AhKd }
Hand 1: 60.896% 57.81% 03.09% 31676509 1690824.50 { 99+, AKs }

This is if he is 3betting a 3% value range here. His range would need to be much wider for us to be even a slight favorite.


equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 52.771% 46.03% 06.74% 56753119 8306097.50 { AhKd }
Hand 1: 47.229% 40.49% 06.74% 49920574 8306097.50 { 88+, ATs+, KTs+, AQo+ }

So it is probably just fold in this particular spot. However, I dont think you should be looking to fold AK too often preflop. Every situation is different so you have to make the best decision with the information you have in each spot.

You shouldn't 4bet/fold AK for 100bb ever vs an unknown. I'd flat pre here and just go from there.

could you call?
Yes. It's really easy to do too, you have position, you have blockers to the nuts, and it's only 10bb.... though the 10bb thing makes me wonder a bit, hmmm

I am going to go against the grain here and say I dont mind your 4 bet fold. reason being is its 5 handed and so AK, AQ, AJs start looking like the nuts and are over valued. If sb is 3 betting with AA, KK and u just call then what when the A or K flops? When villain 5 bet shoves u know almost for a fact QQ+. Disclaimer..I am still learning.

I am going to go against the grain here and say I dont mind your 4 bet fold. reason being is its 5 handed and so AK, AQ, AJs start looking like the nuts and are over valued. If sb is 3 betting with AA, KK and u just call then what when the A or K flops? When villain 5 bet shoves u know almost for a fact QQ+. Disclaimer..I am still learning.

Why would you 4bet then fold AK if it becomes the nuts 5 handed? Villains would be 3betting for value a lot wider when it's short handed.

AK really doesn't shine until after the flop. You need a really good read to justify going all in prf with anything but AA or KK

Why would you 4bet then fold AK if it becomes the nuts 5 handed? Villains would be 3betting for value a lot wider when it's short handed.

Thats why I like the 4bet. Once he shoves from the sb u know QQ+ and not 3bet bluff or 3bet light without reads.

Thats why I like the 4bet. Once he shoves from the sb u know QQ+ and not 3bet bluff or 3bet light without reads.

Hero has to call 7.50 to win a 12.70 pot. AKo's equity against QQ+/AK is 39%.

EVcall = 12.70(.39) - 7.50(.61) = 4.95 - 4.56 = 0.39

If villain's stack off range is tighter than that then it becomes a -ev call. But if that were the case, we shouldn't be 4 betting in the first place.

I would assume sb only calls/folds the 4 bet with AKo, AQs AJs TT, JJ. Shoves with QQ+ given the positions. The fact that it is 5 handed and hero has blockers AK the 4 bet isn't that bad to me. I wouldn't treat the sb range the same as if it was full ring or 6 handed until this happens. Forcing the sb to define his perceived range pre rather than calling and stacking off post flop to AA KK seems better to me. Poker stove is telling me hero is only 30% vs. villains QQ+ range.

If you are going to 4bet/fold your AK. You could just do it with 72o (since it will be a bluff)

So either 4bet/call. If you are not going to call his shove over your 4bet, you should just flat the 3bet!