playing ak in the sb...

[Juandastyle 0]

I think this could be one of the hardest plays in poker.AK, being the 3rd best starting hand, is definitely something you would like to raise w/ preflop to knock out the other possible drawing hands and small pairs.But what happens when you Raise w/ AK in the sb, and get more than 1 caller, and completely miss the flop? There are so many ways to play this, and i know it depends on the game... but consider this:You're dealt AK in the sb.... 3 limpers.... How do you proceed to play the hand.(scenario: there are various types of players at the table, say 3 limpers are loose aggressive, tight aggressive, and donk, respectively.)

[Pokerghost2 0]

dont play poker, its very frustrating.

[teneight 1]

limit or no limit??

[Petoria 0]

Check/fold if you miss the flop.

[Dubey 1,035]

the situation depends so much on blinds and stack sizes that its impossible to give a legitimate answer given the information.

[Stylin_Fish 0]

AK is better then QQ, JJ, 10-10? I guess so.

[Petoria 0]

AK is better then QQ, JJ, 10-10?  I guess so.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Simpleton 0]

Go all in and then throw your computer through the wall when you get beat by 22

[essay 0]

I think this could be one of the hardest plays in poker.AK, being the 3rd best starting hand, is definitely something you would like to raise w/ preflop to knock out the other possible drawing hands and small pairs.But what happens when you Raise w/ AK in the sb, and get more than 1 caller, and completely miss the flop? There are so many ways to play this, and i know it depends on the game... but consider this:You're dealt AK in the sb.... 3 limpers.... How do you proceed to play the hand.(scenario: there are various types of players at the table, say 3 limpers are loose aggressive, tight aggressive, and donk, respectively.)

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

[dereeekho 0]

if you're short stacked: check-fold.if you're deep stacked: lead out with about 1/2 pot.

[MyPlayIsRAB 0]

i thought AK was the 4th best hand.. according to phil hellmuths book..itsaakkqqakjjtt99aq8877if my memory serves me correctly.realistically online, id rather have AKs than QQ b/c it never loses...right? haha.

[SapphireTiger 0]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

[bobbywithani 0]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

Yeah you should still raise, its for value. I like to bet out on a raggedy board. On a somewhat coordinated board, depends on the other players.

[BrantC 0]

Depends on the feel of the table... are the guys in the pot people who call with 5-6o or something along those lines. Depending on the players, I like to go ahead and bet about 1/2 the pot. If I get called, I shut down unless I catch a card. In my expierence online though, most of the time if you dont hit with A-K and bet, you will still take it down. Good luck

[essay 0]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

Uh, no.you should play a hand that misses most flops out of position against a field? Where i come from we call that strong-stupid. I also assumed he was talking no limit.essay

[jaxz 0]

You raise it up BIG 50% of the time with 3+ limpers, and limp along 50%.If 2+ are very weak - be more inclined to limp. When you limp, you bet out good sized when you hit - hoping to trap AJ-Ax mofos.When you have opened - you'll most often have it HU. Bet full pot on flop.And bet turn (if called) unimproved about 50% of the time.This does it for me - works fine at NL 200, full ring./Jaxz

[scatory2 0]

I would just call since u have horrible possition but if you flop a monster you can slowplay i

[Dr_Shakes 0]

if you're short stacked: check-fold.if you're deep stacked: lead out with about 1/2 pot.

If you are short-stacked you should push all in pre-flop with AK!

[Devilkin 0]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

Uh, no.you should play a hand that misses most flops out of position against a field? Where i come from we call that strong-stupid. I also assumed he was talking no limit.essay

I disagree strongly - raise AK in the SB 4xBB+1BB/limper before you. Try to isolate by raising larger than normal.If you miss the flop and have more than two opponents, I agree check/fold. Against two opponents or less, continuation bet, and fold to a raise.Dev

[quadaces 0]

Doesn't a pair of 2's beat A high!That would make pocket deuces a better hand than AK. AK is definatly a better drawing hand. But before you see the flop pocket 2's beat AK everytime!

[Dr_Shakes 0]

Doesn't a pair of 2's beat A high!That would make pocket deuces a better hand than AK. AK is definatly a better drawing hand. But before you see the flop pocket 2's beat AK everytime!

I'm not sure which side you are arguing but I think the point of how good AK is based on how often it is domminated by another good hand. 22 is dominated by everyother pocket pair and is in a coinflip with everyother hand.

[Guest]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

Uh, no.you should play a hand that misses most flops out of position against a field? Where i come from we call that strong-stupid. I also assumed he was talking no limit.essay

I disagree strongly - raise AK in the SB 4xBB+1BB/limper before you. Try to isolate by raising larger than normal.If you miss the flop and have more than two opponents, I agree check/fold. Against two opponents or less, continuation bet, and fold to a raise.Dev

I second Dev. Everything he said is correct.Short stack = push*DO NOT RISK MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO IN ORDER TO TAKE A POT*2 opponents or less that are tight/conervative and you miss = bet 1/3 of pot and dump if raised.2 opponents or less that are anything other than "lay it down if I miss" people, then bet out 1/3 to 1/2 depending on how ugly the flop is.You may be in sb. But, this position can be used as a pos. of strength too. How? Raise preflop and follow through on flop because you are first to bet = nice pot if playing against "lay it down if I miss flop" people. This also works alot better in the bigger games vs. the low limit games where everyone is either a maniac or a calling station.I call em' the "I will never push back at you unless I have a hand" people.Get a feel for the players and proceed accordingly.That is why this game is so much fun. There are a million facets to it.2 minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. It is alot like golf. It will always challenge you.

[quadaces 0]

Doesn't a pair of 2's beat A high!That would make pocket deuces a better hand than AK. AK is definatly a better drawing hand. But before you see the flop pocket 2's beat AK everytime!

I'm not sure which side you are arguing but I think the point of how good AK is based on how often it is domminated by another good hand. 22 is dominated by everyother pocket pair and is in a coinflip with everyother hand.

Yet before you see the flop 2's beat AK EVERYTIME!AK MUST improve to beat 22..........22 doesn't need to improve to beat AK.hey I'm not saying AK is a bad hand, but too many people like the op.. think its a hand you should ALWAYS push with and its simply not the case. Your going to miss the flop something like 75% of the time with AK.

[sublime 0]

Don't raise AK from the small blind.Check fold when you miss.Bet out when you hit.Problem solved.

weak-tight.

Uh, no.you should play a hand that misses most flops out of position against a field? Where i come from we call that strong-stupid. I also assumed he was talking no limit.essay

I disagree strongly - raise AK in the SB 4xBB+1BB/limper before you. Try to isolate by raising larger than normal.If you miss the flop and have more than two opponents, I agree check/fold. Against two opponents or less, continuation bet, and fold to a raise.Dev

This is the best advice I have ever seen on this board. Of course it is exactly how I play it but awesome none the less.One of the things to remember in NL is that people will try to limp with suited anything and connectors unsuited. Push AK hard with lots of limpers, even if everyone folds, 4 or 5 BB is better then getting beat by 56o.~sublime

[sublime 0]

Doesn't a pair of 2's beat A high!That would make pocket deuces a better hand than AK. AK is definatly a better drawing hand. But before you see the flop pocket 2's beat AK everytime!

I'm not sure which side you are arguing but I think the point of how good AK is based on how often it is domminated by another good hand. 22 is dominated by everyother pocket pair and is in a coinflip with everyother hand.

Yet before you see the flop 2's beat AK EVERYTIME!AK MUST improve to beat 22..........22 doesn't need to improve to beat AK.hey I'm not saying AK is a bad hand, but too many people like the op.. think its a hand you should ALWAYS push with and its simply not the case. Your going to miss the flop something like 75% of the time with AK.

So, if you hold 22 and the flop comes out anything but a set you are going to play when you are bet into from the pre-flop raiser? I don't think so. Raise pre-flop and continuation bet with AK. I want you in my game if you call with 22 on any board that doesn't make you a set.~sublime