aq preflop

[Diboss 0]

Guys I was wondering here. I play pretty tight for the most, but mostly when it comes to calling raises. I'll play a lot of decent hands (like KQ from LP), but easily fold those to raises. Here is my question-What about hands like AQo, do you call a 3BB raise preflop with this from LP? I'd usually fold that, is that too tight? My reasoning is this:- I'm going to pair up on that flop 33.3% of the time, a decent player is likely to continue aggression on the flop after raising preflop, so that's 66.7% of the time I'm going to have to fold, since I'm not the type to get attached to a high card hand in a ring game. Even unlikely flops like 762 rainbow, where he also likely missed, how do I know he wasn't raising a pair? so I'm folding.- I hit a Queen top pair on the flop. This is certainly the best non-two pair or better flop I can hope for, I can play this fairly well enough. Sometimes having to give up if I get a strong read of AA or KK (or set in some siuations).- I hit an Ace on the flop. Now this is dangerous, I'm sure someone's going to be thinking that I have second pair, second best kicker, which is good, but the times that you do run into AK, you're gonna get hurt. I think the odds of someone having AK when you have AQ is only about 1/200, so maybe I'm being afraid of ghosts.So it seems only 1 card can come on the flop that begins to make me comfortable, and that's if I hit that Queen and no King comes on the flop also.So folks, any opinions on how you play AQ to a raise.Let's assume this is a full ring game where everyone has even stacks of about 100 BB, just to keep it simple.

[Rocketwadster 0]

No idea what I SHOULD be doing here, but if I'm on the button, I would call it not raise it if it is not suited, and raise it if it is suited. :wink:

[Vade 0]

I fold AQo and AJo and KQo to raises now.I used to call them, and it was a huge leak

[gobears 0]

If I'm in the CO or button, I would call with AQo. A 3xBB raise is standard and the original raiser could have anything.I'm only a huge underdog to AA, KK, QQ, AK.I also have position on the raiser - I fold this if I'm not in the CO or button.

[Absolute 0]

3BB on the button?call if you like money

[TheIceman05 0]

This is one of those "it really REALLY depends" situations. I'm used to playing shorthanded NL, and AQ is definitely a call here against all opponents.I suppose if you're against a squeaky tight opponent, you can toss AQ in the muck here, but you're ahead of so many hands that are going to raise. If I'm in middle position, I like to raise with a wide range of hands, from medium pocket pairs, to ATs, KJs, KQ, etc. If you're out of position, folding's no problem here, but I don't really like laying down a premium-ish hand to a standard raise ON THE BUTTON. Call. See a flop. This is why post-flop skills are very very importantIce

[Diboss 0]

If I'm in the CO or button, I would call with AQo. A 3xBB raise is standard and the original raiser could have anything.I'm only a huge underdog to AA, KK, QQ, AK.I also have position on the raiser - I fold this if I'm not in the CO or button.

You're an underdog to any pair at the moment. When you miss that flop 2/3 of the time, then what?I seem to be in the same boat as Vade with this.

[cdddc75 0]

You're an underdog to any pair at the moment. When you miss that flop 2/3 of the time, then what?I seem to be in the same boat as Vade with this.

Fold. Big deal.

[gobears 0]

If I'm in the CO or button, I would call with AQo. A 3xBB raise is standard and the original raiser could have anything.I'm only a huge underdog to AA, KK, QQ, AK.I also have position on the raiser - I fold this if I'm not in the CO or button.

You're an underdog to any pair at the moment. When you miss that flop 2/3 of the time, then what?I seem to be in the same boat as Vade with this.

But I'm getting 3 to 2 on my call and I'm only a 55% to 45% dog to a PP.Also, I'm ahead of AJ, A10, KQ, KJ, QJI can understand the case for folding, but I'll typically call.

[NickTheKid 0]

Easy Fold.

[TheIceman05 0]

Easy Fold.

What hands DO you play on the button? AA, KK, QQ?Ice

[allinbluff35 0]

Easy Fold.

What hands DO you play on the button? AA, KK, QQ?Ice

most people on this board are nut peddlers and don't push equity

[Vade 0]

Easy Fold.

What hands DO you play on the button? AA, KK, QQ?Ice

Against a raise? AA-99, AKs, AQs, AJs KQs(sooted does make a difference here against a normal sized raise)

[NickTheKid 0]

I like to steal lots of blinds on the button, I play a wide variety of hands on the button.Against a raise like that screams a pocket pair, AK, or worse maybe QQ, KK, or AA. I'm still folding this offsuit.

[Guest XXEddie]

I like to steal lots of blinds on the button, I play a wide variety of hands on the button.Against a raise like that screams a pocket pair, AK, or worse maybe QQ, KK, or AA. I'm still folding this offsuit.

how does a 3xBB riase "scream" PP

[NickTheKid 0]

If you read my post properly, I implied it screams one of the FOLLOWING: I wasn't saying it screams simply a pocket pair.If this was heads up I would call, but it isn't, you still have 2 more people to act, there is a good chance one of the blinds will call, so you are looking at AQo in a multiway pot, and even if you do hit, you could be dominated and be spyhoning chips, I still think this is domination, or a small pp. Maybe a big one.

[Mr Monkey 0]

i would fold most of the time. i have lost to many times when i hit an ace on the flop with hands like these in a multiway pot.

[Scott3705 0]

I think folding AQ to a normal raise on the button is way too tight. You may be behind, you may not be. People do like AJ way too much preflop. I just think that folding AQ preflop is oversimplifying how you play in general. Preflop is usually when you make your most important decision, but there are three more rounds for you to make the right decision. If you're confident enough in your post flop play, I really can't see folding AQ to a normal raise.

[TheIceman05 0]

If I'm in middle position, and there's somebody on the button with standards like yours, I think I would raise each and every hand the rest of the night. Just because somebody raises doesn't mean he has a monster. AQ is a strong hand, and is worth playing on the button for a standard sized raise....

[NickTheKid 0]

I'd play it suited, but not if it wasn't.

[Mr Monkey 0]

If I'm in middle position, and there's somebody on the button with standards like yours, I think I would raise each and every hand the rest of the night. Just because somebody raises doesn't mean he has a monster. AQ is a strong hand, and is worth playing on the button for a standard sized raise....

i would just reaise u the first time i noticed u trying to do that. also just because some people dont always call a bet or a raise with AQo doesnt mean we are supertight, it just means we choose what hands we play and when we play them acording to our strategy. i raise and call with lots of hands worse then AQo. i just usually fold it to a bet or raise cause its the kind of hand that is hard to get away from if an A comes on the flop.

[mk 11]

I fold here. Especially if this is a tournament. The gap concept makes it much harder to call raises with marginal holdings. AQ is such a trouble hand. You make second best hand too often, and you lose much bigger pots than you win.

[Rocketwadster 0]

There is an article in an old Cardplayer issue (the one with Howard Lederer on the cover - tab 3 I think under archives), which is very similar to what you have asked here. I suggest everyone check it out. :wink:

[Guest]

Easy Fold.

What hands DO you play on the button? AA, KK, QQ?Ice

most people on this board are nut peddlers and don't push equity

And here I thought I was the only crazy one...Keep folding AQ on the button to 3xBB raises guys. Makes my late position steals with 78s work a whole lot better. You should especially fold because people have a tendency to not release KK, QQ, or JJ and if you do spike that A for a cost of 3xBB on the button, you can sometimes make 47xBB on future streets, and KK clearly isn't going to continue with a bet even if an A hits, right? There's no money to be made here, so it's best to muck them early and often.I think people are missing the point with AQ...it's a dangerous hand, sure. That doesn't mean you run away from it every time someone looks at you funny. Do you call 2 cold with it in limit? Probably not. Do you call a standard raise in a NL game on the button with it? All day long. Also, why do so many people equate poker skill with the ability to give up on a hand, no questions asked, if they don't absolutely whack the flop? Fit or fold poker does not make any poker player great. It's the ability to play these marginal hands correctly, so as to extract maximum value from them. Avoiding tough preflop decisions entirely is successful only in missing opportunities for profit.

[Mr Monkey 0]

Easy Fold.

What hands DO you play on the button? AA, KK, QQ?Ice

most people on this board are nut peddlers and don't push equity

And here I thought I was the only crazy one...Keep folding AQ on the button to 3xBB raises guys. Makes my late position steals with 78s work a whole lot better. You should especially fold because people have a tendency to not release KK, QQ, or JJ and if you do spike that A for a cost of 3xBB on the button, you can sometimes make 47xBB on future streets, and KK clearly isn't going to continue with a bet even if an A hits, right? There's no money to be made here, so it's best to muck them early and often.I think people are missing the point with AQ...it's a dangerous hand, sure. That doesn't mean you run away from it every time someone looks at you funny. Do you call 2 cold with it in limit? Probably not. Do you call a standard raise in a NL game on the button with it? All day long. Also, why do so many people equate poker skill with the ability to give up on a hand, no questions asked, if they don't absolutely whack the flop? Fit or fold poker does not make any poker player great. It's the ability to play these marginal hands correctly, so as to extract maximum value from them. Avoiding tough preflop decisions entirely is successful only in missing opportunities for profit.

sure u can make 47xbb but u can also lose that much. i just choose not to get involved to often with AQo after their has been a raise in NL Holdem. when i play NL i avoid hands like AQo if their is a raise. i find quite often with this hand i win a little pot cause i bet when a A comes and the other person folds or i lose a big pot cause the other player has AK. i will reriase with AQo after their has been a raise to try and win the pot before i will call with it.