Kris Kringle

...one of the main reasons i don't like raising with AK is because you pretty much have to continue betting it, even if you miss the flop...at least, if everyone checks around to you...otherwise you're pretty much announcing your hand...it's just personal preference...i used to raise with AK damn near every time, when i first started playing...but i've found i have more success just seing a flop with it...then if you miss the flop and someone bets into you, it's pretty easy to lay it down (especially if they have callers)...but mainly, my question was about raising with AK suited as opposed to

...i rarely raise with AK, except sometimes in late postion as a way to mix up my game...but i'm thinking, should i raise LESS often when the AK is suited???...i figure that if your desired suit DOES come, then you would probably want more people in the pot, as opposed to less......btw, the other reason i generally don't raise with AK is because i prefer to see a flop with it, and without raising pre-flop you're then much more likely to have someone betting into you, should an ace or king come out...then you can raise the initial bettor anyway...

Who knows what these people are thinking? Unless you've played with somebody before (or have been at the table for a while), you never really know. My point is simply that you shouldn't play short-stacked. I used to play with a guy who would always buy-in for the minimum. He'd lose that, and then buy-in for the minimum again...he might do that 3 or 4 times in a single session. I remember thinking to myself, "sooner or later that guy's gonna get a straight-flush, and he won't have money to bet with." Bad situation to be in.

Hands like that are exactly the reason you don't want to play short-stacked. Even if you plan on leaving soon, or are only willing to lose a pre-determined amount, it's not real bright to buy-in short ,or let your stack get too low. If you're gonna leave, then leave, but if you're still playing hands then you need to be prepared to act when a rare oppurtunity such as this presents itself. You never know when you'll be dealt a straight-flush or some other top-flight hand, and find yourself against a lesser hand who insists on raising you over and over again. It doesn't happen often, but it does

That's a very good point, Stein. I guess i just threw away 20 bucks, 'cause he's not gonna check after a flop like that after i show weakness. I guess i just didn't expect him to bet so much. Like i said, i don't play much no-limit. I really don't think i belong in that game, as i feel like a fish out of water. I do pretty well in limit games, and as far as those go, i would definitely have bet out after the flop in this situation...

I was playing no-limit the other day (something i very rarely do), and i was in middle position with pocket 9's. I simply called the $2 blind, and the button raises to $20. Everyone folds around to me, i call, and the rest fold. Heads-up now. Flop comes all low cards (rainbow), and i check because i'm fearing an over-pair. Button bets $100. Bet seemed pretty steep to me, indicating that he's just as likely trying to push me out because he's got AK, or something akin to that. But i didn't feel safe calling $100 with only 9's, and in fact with only about $180 in front of me i'd have been better