Checking surrenders the fold equity and initiative your 3-bet earned. Ace-king still has two overcards, six outs when called and real fold equity against the caller's weak hands — a small range bet keeps you in control. The solver bets far more than it checks.

AKo on T♦ 8♣ 3♠, checked to you — bet or check?

Q: AKo on T♦ 8♣ 3♠, checked to you — bet or check?

Bet. In a 3-bet pot you hold the range and nut advantage, and that lets you c-bet a small size with almost your whole range — value and air alike. Ace-king has no pair, but it brings two overcards (six outs), backdoors and real fold equity against the caller's weak hands, so a ⅓-pot bet prints: worse hands fold, and when called you still have outs and can barrel good turns. Checking surrenders the fold equity and initiative your 3-bet earned. The solver bets about 78% of the time — this is the range c-bet in action.

The answer

Bet

small range bet · ⅓ pot

Best size: ⅓ pot · $13

The math: Ace-king high with the nut advantage. On a ten-high board your 3-betting range still crushes the caller's, so a small range c-bet is clearly best — the solver bets about 78%.

Why

In a 3-bet pot you hold the range and nut advantage, and that lets you c-bet a small size with almost your whole range — value and air alike. Ace-king has no pair, but it brings two overcards (six outs), backdoors and real fold equity against the caller's weak hands, so a ⅓-pot bet prints: worse hands fold, and when called you still have outs and can barrel good turns. Checking surrenders the fold equity and initiative your 3-bet earned. The solver bets about 78% of the time — this is the range c-bet in action.

The spot

Villain · CO

checks

POT · $40

T♦

8♣

3♠

A♣

K♦

BTN

$1 / $2 · 100bb

Your seat: BTN
Stakes and stacks: $1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand: A♣ K♦
Board: T♦ 8♣ 3♠
Pot: POT · $40
Action on you: CO checks

Every option

Checkgive up the initiative
Why not: Checking surrenders the fold equity and initiative your 3-bet earned. Ace-king still has two overcards, six outs when called and real fold equity against the caller's weak hands — a small range bet keeps you in control. The solver bets far more than it checks.
Betsmall range bet · ⅓ potCorrect
⅓ pot · $13 · pot · $40

The idea behind it

The range and nut advantage of a 3-bet pot lets the 3-bettor c-bet a small size with almost the entire range, air included: a small bet folds out the caller's weak hands, keeps the initiative, and still has outs when called.

Concept: Range c-bet

See the chart: Preflop ranges Read the methodology

Terms in this spot

C-bet Range

Play it instead of reading it

The trainer deals this hand with hints, grading and spaced repetition — and randomized variations of it once you have seen it.