AKs facing an isolation re-raise, NL MTT

DailyHandQuiz

Game type: $30 Rebuy
Stage of tourney: Nearing the bubble
Your image: n/a
Opponent’s image: Solid
Your hand: A♥K♥

The setup: You have a playable stack in this $30 rebuy tournament on Full Tilt Poker when the following hand comes up.

You are dealt AKs on the button. UTG folds and the a shorter stack goes all in for 8k or so. The table folds to the CO, who shoves for about 20BBs total. Both players have seemed solid up until this point.

What’s your play?

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11 COMMENTS (Jump to comment form)

DHQ Staff

The popularity of the lighter isolation raise makes this play more difficult than it would normally be. Facing a standard EP raise and a button re-raise with normal stacks, AK would be a fairly easy pitch. However, UTG+1 is raising very light, and a solid player the button realizes this and is therefore likely to isolate fairly light.

I think a fair isolation range is 99+,AJs+,AJo+. You’re about a 55-45 favorite against that range. That’s good news, as the sidepot is significant. What happens when we throw the short stack into the mix? I think they have a very broad range with their stack – 33+,A6s+,KTs+,A6o+,KQo seems right.

In a three way pot, you have about 40% equity to win the whole thing. You’re getting about 1.5-1 to call, so that price is spot-on. However, it’s your equity in the significant side pot that makes this call easier – even when you don’t scoop, you’re still a small favorite to win the 16k on the side.

I call.

What actually happened: You called. The short stack showed 88 and the button showed AK; 88 held up and you two split the side pot.

[Reply]

MNOWAX

Have a good chance that i am winning the side pot at least. it looks like an obvious iso play with two big cards, and at worst, i am racing with one and dominating the other ( or exactly what happened in the scenario)

[Reply]

kaimano

With AK I like to be the aggressor. Here I think I’m against a pair and another ace or two other aces. I prefer to fold.

[Reply]

_CityBorn_

I agree, all we really need to win is the side pot, and we’re figuring to be a favorite against his range. Plus we could take the whole thing down if it goes our way. Call.

[Reply]

veliplanchiste

It’s a fold to me.
I’m marginally favorite against CO range for the side pot, and I offer a short stack the opportunity to TRIPLE near the bubble.

[Reply]

bigfoot

If the 2 V hands are reversed, you are screwed. I fold.

[Reply]

Jimbo

Fold.

It’s close, but I don’t like this spot enough to risk the bubble. Our stack is still good for a few moves where we’re the aggressor, so I’d respect the isolation play here and wait for a less contested spot.

[Reply]

Rhycar

For a change, I agree with staff. UTG +1 could literally have any two cards. I know if my M is less than 3 and I’m first to open a pot, I’d shove with as little as 10-9. If I were player E, I would reraise with as low as A9, 66+, KQ (I’m serious here). However, E is a bit short-stacked, so maybe tighten his range to AT+, 88+.

Good point from MNOWAX. You really just need to win the side pot to show a good profit. But I think you’re a favorite most of the time against both of them. Shove.

[Reply]

atish81

lol, never fold here
first raiser could have almost any 2.
the CO allin is 55-JJ pair, AT or so he is isolating.

so i push.

[Reply]

Mike Litoris

I fold simply because there is no need to coin flip here. If you lose you are really in trouble to make it in the money here. No need to coin flip now. Pick a better spot.

[Reply]

teddy

i voted fold because at least one of these players most likely has a big pair and were racing to win this one. i think we should pick a better spot.

[Reply]