How Good Is AK Really??

[maskicker]

i cant remember the last time i had AK and actualy came close to winning the hand. am i slow playing it into a nothing hand. do i go all in? what for the flop?. any advice would be grateful.

maskicker

yeh its the same i just got a bigger kicker

[SWITCH]

U don 't always have play ur cards based on what they are ..... what i m saying is just cause u got the better hand or a better starting hand dos not mean ur going to end up wining the hand ...... So just remember play the player to ....... cause any 2 cards can win

[sjokkis]

My advice is not to slow play AK, AA, KK. Its better to win small in for of blind stealing, than loose big.

[finnsen]

My advice is not to slow play AK, AA, KK. Its better to win small in for of blind stealing, than loose big.

I agree completely. Limping preflop is no good idea. Limping after flop is the better choice. Preflop you should RAISE(!) to kick out the loosing hands.
And remember: suited AK is much better than offsuit AK!

[MiniPlato]

Important thing to do when you've raised your AK pre-flop, and too many players have called your raise, make sure you're not afraid to throw it away when you don't hit a thing on the flop.

[MrLegend]

That's right raise .
after all A-K is the 4 best hand .

[scrawnybob]

hi

it's is a common misconception about AK being the 4th strongest hand - it isnt

AK suited is the 5th strongest

AK off suit is the 9th strongest


rank of starting hands (top end) according to Sklansky is below

AA

KK

nb. statistically a big gap before

QQ

JJ

then

AK suited

10-10

AQ suited

AJ suited

then

AK off suit

KQ suited


Check our article for a complete list of Poker starting hands ranked best to worse

hope thats a help

cheers scrawnybob - webmaster

[Jarvis]

I play AK, AA and KK as I do any premium starting hand: raise. Unless I am only up against 1 and possibly 2 other players, I don't screw around with these. Most of the time I'll do a continuation bet on the flop with AK even if I don't hit a thing.

[scrawnybob]

hi Jarvis

nice point - continuation bets are always a good idea with AK

Personally I think - If your not prepared to put a convinving bet up on the flop with AK regardless of whether it hits or not - maybe you shouldnt have played AK in the first place

AK is definately a hand designed for folding equity - so it makes sense to fire again at the flop even if it doesnt hit

past that I'd give it up - definately not worth chasing with ace high on the turn & river IMHO

cheers scrawnybob - webmaster

[Assistanc3]

I'll see a turn if its cheap enough
but firing on the flop is generally the 'right' play........or is it?

if you have raised pre flop, and the flop has (either a) Q J T
is probly not the right move to bet

but if the flop has lower rank cards, it makes betting the proper choice
IE: representing over pairs or 3 of a kind