A♦A♣ on a Multiway Flop, what do you do here?

AA on Multiway Flop-optimized.gif


DECISION POINT:
In a Tournament, it folds to you in Middle Position and you raise with A♦A♣. The Hijack calls, the Cutoff and Button fold, and the Blinds call. The Flop comes K♦J♣7♦. The Blinds check and you bet. The Hijack raises, the Small Blind calls, and the Big Blind folds. Action is on you, what do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: One pair hands rarely do well in 4-way flops when multiple deep stacks start to go in. In this case, the Stack to Pot Ratio (SPR) on the flop is over 16, so this is a very deep stacked spot. We should not look to get stacks in on this flop with this action.

Our backdoor opportunities (flush draw, gutshot straight draw, trips or two pair) are a crucial aspect of this hand. If the raise was slightly bigger and we didn't hold the A♦, we could even fold this flop against some opponents after a raise given the multiway nature of this hand.

There are many opponents whose raising range on a 4-way flop is two pair or better and never any draws. The SB's range is more draw heavy given the cold call, but Hijacks's range is the bigger concern and has us in bad shape overall.

If we take further aggressive actions on the flop, we will constrict opponent hand ranges even further, resulting in each additional chip getting in with increasingly the worst of it.

Continued below...

Membership - Barks v2 300x250.png


If we give SB a range of various flush draws and combo draws and Hijack a range of two pair, sets and some occasional big draws, we only have about 16% equity on the flop with our AA.

Given our backdoor opportunities and the good pot odds, we should call the initial flop raise and be capable of folding the turn when the backdoor cards don't materialize and there is significant further action.

Calling is the best play.

How would you play it?
Share your answer in the comments below!


“Did I play that hand right?”

It’s that fundamental question that, as poker players, we all ask ourselves on a regular basis...

With so many conflicting sources of advice available, where can you get clear answers?

With the LearnWPT Ask a Pro feature, you can get the answers!

  • Members can ask written or video poker questions to get in-depth answers from our LearnWPT Pros
  • Discuss poker strategy with our Pros and other LearnWPT Members
  • Submit YOUR poker hands to get expert analysis and feedback by real poker coaches!

Find out what’s it like to have a professional poker coach help you improve your game by trying out your first month of Membership at LearnWPT for just $5.

Everyone else is improving their game... are you?


Posted on Tags