I Need Help w/ AK Play

I have a problem with AK. I don't play it very well, and I know it. I'm scared to death to play AK for a 3bet pre-flop (which makes me pretty nitty). I'm starting to get to the higher end of SSNL, and I need to play AK better. I know I'm losing lots of value. I rarely take down large pots with it. I rarely take down medium pots. I'm currently playing 50NL and working in 100NL at premium times. I need help with my AK play. Would anyone mind showing me some HH examples of "correct" or "standard" AK play where you take down a medium to large pot? I'd appreciate it.

EDIT: I play FR btw.

Reraising preflop will instill fear in your opponents easily. If you cold call, you represent very little. If you 3bet preflop, you can easily take down a medium sized pot from just the preflop action.

Then again, don't treat AK like the nuts. Sure it's strong, but you need to connect if you plan on going to showdown.

3bet like 3x their raise assuming no callers in between or what? do you pot the flop after usually (assuming they aren't a calling station)? i think another reason i'm timid is b/c i'm afraid to get into large pots with TPTK. i'd like to see some examples of how to play AK after you've 3bet and hit your pair and are getting called down or raised.

First hand last night...I'm dealt AK off suit in the small blind....utg +1 raises to a dollar 2 callers I call frm SB..BB hits it for one more ...WTF ??? goes around no re-raises I call...the flop was A 9 3 ...rainbow...all check to the button & he bets one buck....[I was going to push over right there} but I just called...turn is a king..I pot bet it & all fold....BB had 10 10 he showed....I feel your situation...you either win small out of position w AK or get your ass handed to you...Any in the field could have had small pocket pairs...& I fear the re-raise from a set...or just an aggro making a move with any ace...tough spot to play well from ...I'd like to hear how it should be played from better players also....mike

Yes, I'd also like to hear if most 3bet only when they have position on the raiser or does that not even matter to you?

every time there is a raise in front (unless the player is a 10/2 nit), i am threebetting AK.

Originally Posted by Renton

every time there is a raise in front (unless the player is a 10/2 nit), i am threebetting AK.

are you following through with like a 3/4 pot bet on the flop almost every time and slowing down if called or raised?

not necessarily

if the flop is ace or king high, i am betting, and will not get away almost ever

if the flop is Q high or J high im usually betting

if the flop is three rags im usually betting BUT if villain is solid I am checking it down, since just about the only hands he'll call me preflop with are hands that are in love with this flop.

Originally Posted by Renton

not necessarily

if the flop is ace or king high, i am betting, and will not get away almost ever

so how often are ppl paying you off (or how often did they pay you off at 50nl/100nl) with worse kickers or with their high pp < your TPTK? or do you often just take the pot down right there?

pretty often

thats not really the point tho

The point is that by the time you get to that point in time (that point being, when you make TPTK on the flop, bet 3/4 the pot and get raised all in), you are priced in to stack off. It is simply a matter of probability.

Originally Posted by Renton

pretty often

thats not really the point tho

The point is that by the time you get to that point in time (that point being, when you make TPTK on the flop, bet 3/4 the pot and get raised all in), you are priced in to stack off. It is simply a matter of probability.

oh ya, i get that alright. i was just curious.

When you are in position with AK and the pot has not been raised I believe you should play them like aces preflop and flop then if you have a caller to the turn you should at least be able to see a free river if you are sitting on air. This means 4/5 betting preflop if the pot has not already been raised. If it has already been raised, well then all those variables come into play i.e. is opp. lag tag etc.. I would say just play them carefully in this situation you can always wait for something better. If you are out of position play them like aces always c-bet but evaluate and play carefully if you have a caller to the turn. So you check the turn and he makes a large bet either he has you beat or hes bluffing probably 70/30 in a vacuum. So fold and wait for something better or go all in

Here's a recent AKo hand from SB.

The only reason I checked the flop was because it was so good for me, and I knew my opponent would bet it. On a more dangerous flop I'd lead out.

***** Hand History for Game 5401188169 *****
$200 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, October 28, 20:14:55 ET 2006
Table Jackpot #1305282 (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: PHILOUMAN ( $0 )
Seat 2: Fake1kick ( $264.12 )
Seat 3: Swapshop ( $214.25 )
Seat 4: GregAndrek ( $494.62 )
Seat 6: Need60KFast ( $189.30 )
Seat 5: Hero ( $127.30 )
Hero posts small blind [$1].
Need60KFast posts big blind [$2].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Kh Ad ]
Fake1kick folds.
Swapshop raises [$6].
PHILOUMAN has left the table.
GregAndrek folds.
Hero raises [$12].
Need60KFast folds.
Swapshop calls [$7].
** Dealing Flop ** [ As, 5d, 6d ]
Hero checks.
Swapshop bets [$18].
Hero is all-In.
Swapshop folds.
Hero does not show cards.
The time at which hand ended:Oct 28 2006 20:16 ET
Hero wins $157.80


Here's another example, but in this instance I didn't hit.

***** Hand History for Game 5399395145 *****
$200 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, October 28, 02:29:58 ET 2006
Table Jackpot #1304571 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 2: JYAME ( $180.77 )
Seat 3: baz13 ( $408.57 )
Seat 4: staar112 ( $49.42 )
Seat 6: BlindFish333 ( $89.48 )
Seat 8: Zobayur ( $91.39 )
Seat 9: westmountron ( $71.11 )
Seat 10: Hero ( $219.78 )
Seat 5: Liungen ( $100.66 )
Seat 7: playgg ( $80 )
Zobayur posts small blind [$1].
westmountron posts big blind [$2].
Liungen posts big blind [$2].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Hero [ Kc As ]
playgg has left the table.
Hero raises [$9].
JYAME folds.
baz13 calls [$9].
staar112 folds.
Liungen folds.
BlindFish333 folds.
Zobayur folds.
westmountron folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7h, Th, 6c ]
Hero bets [$18].
baz13 folds.
Hero does not show cards.
The time at which hand ended:Oct 28 2006 02:30 ET
tmmstu wins $39.35

Short and sweet. I like to play them like aces, and reevaluate if I come up against resistance.

ok well hand 1 you're almost 1/2 stacked and hand 2 is pretty routine as it's just a pfr and cbet.

Yep.

Edit - What were you expecting??

You specifically asked for examples of correct play, and I just gave them. They're not big pots, because a big pot is only going to be generated if the opposition believes they're in front. You don't ever want them to believe that with AK, unless they're got AQ or AJ.

Originally Posted by handsomestan

Yep.

Edit - What were you expecting??

You specifically asked for examples of correct play, and I just gave them. They're not big pots, because a big pot is only going to be generated if the opposition believes they're in front. You don't ever want them to believe that with AK, unless they're got AQ or AJ.

my posts were pretty much just talking about 3betting pf, and also flop/turn play when you are called/raised after hitting.

i dunno i don't like the all in in hand 1. Seems like poop to me you had a monster hand and all you wanted to make was 20 bucks ?

Ahhh sorry i thought you Ad Kd (flush draw)

Stan- hand 1 min reraise (2x it)... screams monster... i would blast him with a bigger reraise... put him to the test- wen you double it you say "ok i have monster, now call to see if you can 2 pair for my stack".

Yes the trick with pf monsters (AA, KK, AK*) is to play for more money b4 flop (+EV) w/o giving your opponent insane implied odds (making your hand incredibly obvious). So I would advise the following-

1. Raise same range (3-5BB) each hand.
2. If you reraise, you are giving opponents information, either make it costly to continue (3BB to 8-9BB) or don't reraise at all.

AKo is not a good drawing hand- it will rarely make broadway, and if it hits AAx or KKx flop you will likely not be paid off. In ring game, AKo is a vulnerable hand and I would play it quietly. Shallow stacked Tourney however I would never mind pushing wit it.

oh well i guess i should just start 3betting and repping the flop and probably give up afterwards if i haven't hit. thanks anyways guys.

Originally Posted by martindcx1e

oh well i guess i should just start 3betting and repping the flop and probably give up afterwards if i haven't hit. thanks anyways guys.

I play it both ways. Depends on my opponent, etc.