O-Poker

(specifically in 6 max cash games)

I read a lot of hand advice posts on cardrunners and 2+2 and when it comes to getting all-in preflop there are a couple of hands that people always question and have differing opinions - AK and QQ. (I'll save QQ for another day.)

Getting all-in preflop in a cash game has so many variables - your image, how often you think your opponent will fold, how often your opponents has 3 or 4 bet, how often you have 3/4 bet at the table, your history with a particular player (either this session or long term), etc., etc.

There are times that I can't get my money in fast enough with AK and other times it is an easy fold to a 3 or 4 bet. I'll even just flat call pf in certain situations.

Gnome had a post earlier in the week questioning CTS getting AI PF in a cardrunners video with AK and running into AA. CTS said that it was just a cooler - some good discussion in that post.

I'm really interested on some opinions on how people would play AK in the following situations (I'll post my answers next week):

Hand 1
2/4 NL - 6 max
Just sat down at table. No reads/no data mined stats on players

Player 1 ($400)
Player 2 ($400)
Player 3 ($400)
Player 4 ($400) - Button
Player 5 ($400) - Small Blind
You ($400) - Big Blind

****Your Cards - AdKs******

Player 5 posts SB of $2
You post BB of $4
Player 1-3 folds

Button raises to $14
SB folds

Q1 - What do you do here?

---------------------------------

Hand 2
Same Hand - No reads

2/4 NL - 6 max
Just sat down at table. No reads/no data mined stats on players

Player 1 ($400)
Player 2 ($400)
Player 3 ($400)
Player 4 ($400) - Button
Player 5 ($400) - Small Blind
You ($400) - Big Blind

****Your Cards - AdKs******

Player 5 posts SB of $2
You post BB of $4
Player 1-3 folds

Button raises to $14
SB raises to $48

Q2 - What do you do here?

--------------------------------
Hand 3

Same as Hand 1 - this time with stats.
The button is 14/10/1 (VP$P, PFR%, TAF over 10,000 mostly data mined hands) and has played fairly tight with the occasional button steal, but hasn't really gotten out of line.
Your stats for 60 hands at the table are 24/16/2. You have a fairly aggressive image and have 3 bet a few times without having to show down your hand.

Q3a - Whats your move?

----------------------
Let's say that you decide to raise to $48 and the button thinks for a few seconds and makes it $152.

Q3b - What is your move?

Q3C - Same hand - this time the button is 26/19/3. What is your move now?

-----------------------

Hand 4

2/4 NL - 6 max
Just sat down at table. No reads/no data mined stats on players

Player 1 ($400)
Player 2 ($400)
Player 3 ($400)
You ($400) - Button
Player 5 ($400) - Small Blind
Player 6($400) - Big Blind

****Your Cards - AdKs******

Player 5 posts SB of $2
You post BB of $4
Player 1-3 folds

You raise to $14
SB folds
BB Raises to $48


Q4a - What's your move?

Same hand - The Big Blind is 14/10/1 (VP$P, PFR%, TAF over 1,000 mostly data mined hands) and has played fairly tight, but hasn't really gotten out of line.

Your stats for 60 hands at the table are 24/16/2. You have a fairly aggressive image and have 3 bet a few times without having to show down your hand.

Q4b - What is your move?


Q4c - Same hand - this time the button is 26/19/3. What is your move now?


Hopefully, this will stem some discussion on AK preflop in cash games. It seems like a lot of people are willing to get 100BB stacks in preflop in almost any situation with AK.