A♥Q♥ CO vs BTN, preflop, 100 bb
The spot
- You: CO
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♥Q♥
- Board: preflop, no board yet
- Effective stack: 100 bb
- Pot: 12 bb
CO opens 2.5bb, BTN 3‑bets to 8bb, blinds fold.
Best practical response OOP?
See the answer
Best play: Call
Why
Out of position versus a BTN 3‑bet, AQs mostly calls at 100bb: it dominates villain's value AQ/AJ and bluffs, realizes equity well as a suited hand, whereas a pure 4‑bet bloats the pot OOP and folds out the very hands it beats.
Key idea
AQs is strong enough to continue versus a 3‑bet but not a pure 4‑bet for value; flatting keeps villain's dominated broadways and bluffs in your range rather than blowing them out.