Many players eyes will light up when their eyes fall on AK as their pocket cards. However many players will also complain that they’re constantly getting beat on AK, when they should have the odds in their favour. So why is AK rated as such a good starting hand?
The strength behind AK comes in its ability to make other players fold when they shouldn’t. If you’re significantly raising before the flop, you ought to be able to make most players fold with hands that won’t stand up – say anything less than pocket 10s. However it must be kept in mind that if you raise too much then the only hands that will call are AA and KK – the only two hands that have you pretty solidly beat.
The trick is raise enough so that you’re not pushing low stacked players all in, as its probably not in your best interests to fall into a heads up race with only a slight percentage in your favour. You will want to force players out, not go all in with your chips.
AK loses much of its value if blinds are small relative to stack size, players are short stacked or if players are pot committed and unlikely to lay down their hand.
Keep in mind that even if you’re only stealing blinds or chasing out early raises, you’re still winning cash. AK isn’t a hand to slow-play and it’s a dangerous hand to fall in love with. If you see a flop of 10 8 8, you lose a lot of your value and confidence in your hand.
Just remember this: AK is the most dominant DRAWING hand in poker. A pair of deuces beats it. Play it aggressively at the beginning and don’t be afraid to get out of the way if you early bets don’t work and a flop comes right against you.
If I hear Norman Chad say “Anna Kournikova, looks good, but doesn’t win often” one more time I am going to throw my remote at the TV!
(Don’t get me wrong, I obviously have nothing against Anna Kournikova, or being dealt AK suited.)
AK must be played hard with 3xBB raises, or re-raises preflop. Then study the board and be ready to fold it.
Aslong as u can fold AK u’ll be ok.
AK loses much of its value if blinds are small relative to stack size, players are short stacked or if players are pot committed and unlikely to lay down their hand.
I agree with 2 parts of this comment the first and third ..I dissagree with the second if a player is short stackd I like ak much better because if ur pushing tham around they are likely to call you with alot of worse hands and likely dominated aces.
Big Slick IS A DRAWING HAND plain and simple. In 9 handed raise 3 x BB see a flop and fold if raised significantly. Short handed you can hang in their a little longer if not priced out of the hand.
So Your going to give up on AK if you are short stacked?OR i mean if its 4 handed you will conisder folding to a reraise?after 3 bb raise
I hate pocket AK. In 95% of the time I loose. Yes, I raise preflop (3*BB, or according to my position) but I would still loose. I have way better statistic with AQ.
But worse is that I don’t remeber ever winning a hand when I play against these hand, no matter of what I have. I also lost when we both had AK, he just happened to get the flush in river.
Yes, it still is a good hand, it just doesn’t work for me.