Advice on playing AK

[Play2day 0]

I just cant seem to play AK right. What is the best way to play AK in both limit and no limit games. Both Pre-Flop and after the flop when you miss a pair would be appreciated. Thanks

[banker2005 0]

It all depends,Example3-6 Limit2 players limp, i would raise3-6 LimitUTG player raises and gets rersaised, i would probably lay it down3-6 Limityour in the BB, 1 player raises in front of you from middle postition and gets raised by an agressive player in late postiion, i would probably just callso much depends on the situation that there is know way to play it everytime

[Play2day 0]

OK...but lets say you totally miss the flop and it checks around to you after raising preflop in a 3-6 limit game...Better to bet or just check and hope for help?

[Smasharoo 0]

Raise with it pre-flop whenever it's one bet to you. Three bet with it when it's two bets to you. Call when it's three bets to you unless it's heads up with one other player who three-bet in which case, cap it.Playing overcards after the flop with no pair is a huge pain in the ass, and hard to sum up because it's so dependent on pot size, how many players are involved, the board and about 90 million other things.The good news is that it'll allways feel uncomfortable and confusing.

[banker2005 0]

Smasharoo said it perfectly "Playing overcards after the flop with no pair is a huge pain in the ass..."But if I raise preflop and it checks to me with 2 others and the board is say 3 7 TI would probably bet but it still depends on your opponents and the pot size.

[deadlysyns 0]

In limit do not bother raising with in a 3/6 game. At that low of a limit people will call you preflop with any two cards. If you miss the flop, depending on who you are playing against you can see the turn and hope to hit your A or K. If you miss the flop you can always let it go.In NL depending on cash game or tourney, I usually try to trap with this hand by limping it in. When an A hits people will not see an AK in an unraised flop.It all depends on the makeup of the table when I decide how to play AK. AK looks nice but its still a drawing hand.

[TimSchara 0]

In limit, I like to play it as aggressively as possible pre-flop, except if it's alredy 3 bet before me (then it depends on who is doing the raising and what type of player they are...I'll just call....cap if they are loose aggresive). If the flop is checked to me then I"ll fire one out and see what everyone does. If everyone calls and I don't hit an ace or preferably a king I'll check the turn and fold to a bet. As for no-limit, I don't really know what to tell you, I don't play nl very much.

[banker2005 0]

"In limit do not bother raising with in a 3/6 game"sorry dead but i got to argue with you there, AK is a winner a higher percentage of the time and you get a good expected value when raising preflop.Play2day i would suggest you get Slansky and Malmuth's book "Small Stakes Holdem: Winning with Expert Play" it gives some good advice on playing overcards after a missed flop in low limit games.

[Smasharoo 0]

In limit do not bother raising with in a 3/6 game. At that low of a limit people will call you preflop with any two cards.Yeah, that's why you should raise with it, not a reason not to.People who don't raise AK in limit because people cold call with horrible cards don't understand holdem very well.

[deadlysyns 0]

I am try to point out that people get so attached to AK. There are situations where I do raise with it depending on the table make up. Playing at a full table at 3/6 limit AK will not hold up alot of the time unless you hit the A or K.Just dont get to frisky with it when you are aggressive with it preflop and on the flop. If someone keeps calling you with a rag flop, you are probably beat and let the hand go.

[Smasharoo 0]

I am try to point out that people get so attached to AK. There are situations where I do raise with it depending on the table make up. Playing at a full table at 3/6 limit AK will not hold up alot of the time unless you hit the A or K. It's probably almost never good if you donn't pair it multi-way. The point is that when you raise with it pre-flop you get 5 bets for your one or whatever and you're going to win with it well over 1 time in 5.It's an equity thing.

[tekn0wledg 0]

Smash is right. You raise because you are getting expected value behind it.... I wouldn't get gunshy or you might further decrease your winning % with AK due to even more unwanted callers in the pot with you hitting crap with subpar hands.

[benhoug 0]

Like TJ says, if you don't flop to it, get rid of it.

[pepper1 0]

I think the best way to play ak is to through out a midium size bet pre flop,and say someone calls your bet and you dont connect with the flop,just toss that hand away.Its hard to tell someone a good way to play ak, because to tell the truth there is no realy wrong way to play ak,just use basic comen sense like you would do with any other hand.

[Smasharoo 0]

Like TJ says, if you don't flop to it, get rid of it.Having watched TJ play a lot bot in person and on TV, I have to see he rarely plays the way he advises others too. Doesn't mean his advice is bad or anything, just an observation.