AK and QQ Preflop at the Low Limits (4) - Examples

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AK and QQ preflop at the Low Limits (4) - Examples

by MiiWiin

In the fourth and last part of this series you will find a number of practical examples. By now you need to have internalised the basics, you know the possible scenarios, plays as well as your equity and also pay attention to your opponents.

Basically, there is not much left that could go wrong now.

Isolation

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10) (13/11/74/1.9) (VPIP / PFR / fold-to-3b / 4-betting range)*
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
Hero ($10)

* All stats in this article are based on the assumption that a sufficiently big sample size was used.

Preflop: Hero is BB with A , K
UTG raises to $0.40, 8 folds, Hero…

A very tight player open-raises from early position. All the other players at the table have already folded and you have to make a decision now: Call or 3-bet?

If you call, you will play a heads-up pot out of position with AK. This is quite acceptable. There is no danger of having to play in a multi-way pot.

You are aware of the fact that 3-bet/fold is a theoretical option with AK. But would this make sense in this spot?

Try to justify your move:

Is a 3-bet for value here or is it a bluff?

In order to answer that, we have to look at the ranges. His open-raising range is not 11% in this spot. In the previous part you learned that you also need to consider the position stats, and not only the overall statistics.

If you do that, you will see that his open-raising range from UTG is 6%:

• Open-raising range (~6%): 55+, AQs+, AKo
• 4-betting range (~1.9%): QQ+, AKs

You fare quite well against his OR range:

Equity analysis
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	56.16%	49.36%	13.61%	37.03%	55+, AQs+, AKo
Player 2	43.84%	37.03%	13.61%	49.36%	A K

Based on your equity, you could find a correct call preflop.

You don't fare well against his 4-betting range however:

Equity analysis
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	66.76%	59.97%	13.6%	26.44%	QQ+, AKs
Player 2	33.24%	26.44%	13.6%	59.97%	A K

It can therefore not be your goal to go broke here. This means: If you 3-bet, you would always have to fold to a 4-bet. Your 3-bet would therefore be a bluff since it is your goal to get medium pocket pairs to fold.

You can pretty much rule out that Villain will call here given the tiny gap between his VPIP and PFR (13/11). It is therefore very unlikely that he will call with weaker hands.

Conclusion: You can find a call in this spot.

Now of course you have to ask yourself when it would make sense to play 3-bet/fold.

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10) (13/11/74/1.9) (VPIP / PFR / fold-to-3b / 4-betting range)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
Hero ($10)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
BB ($10)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A , K
UTG raises to $0.40, 3 folds, Hero…

A call is not ideal in this spot (it is possible though, see Example 4), since you don't really want to end up in a multi-way pot. You can 3-bet here, hoping that better hands behind you will fold or that weaker hands will call (for example if there are calling stations in the hand).

In the end, it is still a bluff against the open-raiser; against the 4-bet you fare just as poorly.

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10) (40/12/34/0.9) (VPIP / PFR / fold-to-3b / 4-betting range)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
Hero ($10)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A , K
UTG raises to $0.40, 8 folds, Hero…

In this case, a call would be an option as well. However, the difference between the VPIP and the PFR is so huge here that this calling station will be able to call weaker hands. You have a 3-bet for value here, but are definitely behind against his 4-betting range of KK+.

4-bet, call or fold?

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10)
Hero ($10)
BU ($10) (17/13/7/45) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range button / fold-to-4-bet)
SB ($10)
BB ($10)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q , Q
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, BU raises to $1.20, 2 folds, Hero…

You open-raise your queens on the cut-off and get a 3-bet from a regular. He 3-bets 7% of his hands on the button:

• 3-betting range (7%): TT+, AJs+, A6s-A5s, 76s, 65s, 54s, AQo+

It is out of question that you are ahead against this range. However, this does not justify a 4-bet. You see the fold-to-4-bet stat of 45%, which means that Villain is very well capable of bluffing quite a few hands here. However, he might assume that you will fairly often make a light 4-bet here in order to take advantage of this.

What will this player go broke with? In this spot certainly with JJ+/AK.

In the end, you have to opt for this play since a call out of position should not be an option. This could theoretically even be the best play, however the spot will be almost impossible to handle on the flop when you are out of position.

Many players say that this is not an argument for a 4-bet (“…just because it is easier..."). But what good is it if you call out of position and continuously get yourself in -EV spots which you can't handle. There are probably only few players in the world who can play something like this (3-bet pots OOP without the initiative) profitably in the long run.

Keep in mind, in one of three cases the flop brings an ace or a king - how would you play against the above 3-betting range then?

The best play here is therefore: 4-bet/broke.

But in which cases could you consider a fold or even a call?

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10)
Hero ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
BB ($10) (17/10/3/40) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range big blind / fold-to-4-bet)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q , Q
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, 2 folds, BB raises to $1.30, Hero...

This time the player who 3-bets is a mix between TAG and Rock, probably not the most solid player. His 3-betting range on the big blind is made up of 3%, i.e.: JJ+, AKs, AKo.

It is very difficult to make estimations about his broke range, but some AK combos are often not included in the range of such players. In order to avoid isolating yourself here, calling would be an option since this time you are at least in position, which is a very important factor.

Although a call is conceivable, playing 4-bet/broke certainly won't be a huge mistake here.

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
Hero ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10) (12/8/1.5/22) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range MP / fold-to-4-bet)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
BB ($10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Q , Q
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.40, 1 fold, MP raises to $1.20, 6 folds, Hero...

In this spot, you can immediately fold your queens. The rock only 3-bets 1.5% of his range from this position, which corresponds to QQ+, AKs. You stand no chance here.

When you have reads this clear, you have to be able to tell how much your hand is actually worth. Forget about the queens and surrender the 4 big blinds instead of investing another 96 BBs as a huge underdog.

Multi-way

Multi-way spots are generally harder to analyse, since there are many players in the hand and it is fairly difficult to assess and judge all of them.

That's why it doesn't have to be a mistake to go broke with these hands here. However, we want to show you two spots in which you may very well fold your hand:

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
Hero ($10)
CO ($10) (35/5/1) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range cut-off)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
BB ($10) (13/11/3) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range BB)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A , K
5 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, CO calls $0.40 2 folds, BB raises to $1.70, Hero...

In this spot, you can fold your hand. You don't do well at all with your AKo against the BB range. On top of that, chances are small that you are facing a bluff here and that you can create fold equity with a 4-bet(push). This player is not very likely to bluff squeeze and if he wanted to, he probably wouldn't do so with a calling station in the hand.

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10) (25/15/44/1.0) (VPIP / PFR / fold-to-3-bet / 4-betting range)
MP1 ($10)
Hero ($10)
CO ($10)
BU ($10)
SB ($10)
BB ($10) (16/13/1.9) (VPIP / PFR / 4-betting range BB)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A , K
3 folds, MP raises to $0.40, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.20, 3 folds, BB raises to $2.80, MP folds, Hero...

A cold 4-bet is usually for value and only very rarely a bluff. This 16/13 player will only very rarely bluff in this spot. He clearly signals strength against two players, therefore you can fold your hand here.

Squeeze induce

The squeeze induce is quite a decent possibility to improve your game with these hands.

The basic idea in such a spot is as follows:

PartyPoker $10 NL Hold'em (10ßhanded)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($10)
UTG+2 ($10)
MP ($10)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($10) (13/10/55/1.2) (VPIP / PFR / fold-to-3b / 4-betting range)
Hero ($10)
BU ($10) (23/17/7) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range button)
SB ($10)
BB ($10) (25/22/8) (VPIP / PFR / 3-betting range button BB)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A , K
5 folds, MP2 raises to $0.40, Hero calls $0.40...

You call here in order to induce a squeeze from the players behind you. The button as well as the big blind are able to 3-bet loosely (squeeze). If this happens and if MP2 folds, you can top this and go all-in.

The advantages of this move are as follows:

• You don't isolate yourself against a strong 4-betting range of MP2.
• Button and BB are very unlikely to call, the danger of having to play in a multi-way pot is therefore not very big.
• If you get a squeeze and MP2 subsequently pushes, you can go ahead and fold your hand.
• If it doesn't work out, you are playing HU in position with AK against MP2. This is not particularly bad, especially since he will only rarely put you on AK and you dominate his range.
• You balance your calls for set value. Usually you would fold a hand such as 55 to the squeeze, but this way your opponents will see that you won't always make it that easy for them.
• Since your play looks awkward and many players will have trouble interpreting it, you will get looser calls from the squeezers, so that your AK will fare pretty well equity-wise.

Every now and then you should ask yourself if such a play may be an option in certain spots.

LINKS
Related articles: AK and QQ Preflop at the Low Limits (1) - Basic Ideas AK and QQ Preflop at the Low Limits (2) - Possible Lines AK and QQ Preflop at the Low Limits (3) - Your Opponents Discussion forum: Discuss this column in the forum