AK suited early in a MTT

[jdubs]

most people had folded before me, no raises for the BB, 3-4 limpers, what to do?? I pushed all in, I guess an over bet? lost to JJ heads up ( 1 caller) did I make a stupid play, or is this just a bad beat? I know I should stay tight in the early stages, but given an opportunity like AK d, i couldnt resist.. It left me with 55 chips which I actually built up to 600 a few hands later, AK, and A9 suited , pushing all in in desperation (no raises previous) , went out soon after on a stupid bluff (river card showed a flush draw possibility, i was heads up , and pushed when my adversary actually had the goods! ...doh!!! can you say STUPID??

[vqc]

just raise to 3-5xBB, the limpers will still fold, the JJ will still call (usually) and you wont lose all your chips on an all in where you arent even a favorite. (it doesnt count as a bad beat if he was ahead the whole time).

[bdawg56kg]

I just watched Howard Lederer's video on Holdem, and he made a very interesting point that applys here. Basically he said that when you make such an aggressive overbet, you turn your AK into a 72o, because the only hands that will call you are AA, KK, and maybe QQ (personally I think your opponent made a stupid move to call you with just JJ). So basically you either pick up a few BB's, or get called and are dominated or a coinflip. You can't expect someone to call with AQ or AJ, unless they're a fish.

[aokrongly]

I'll bet 4-5x bb with multiple limpers and AK in late position. AI doesn't do anything that a decent raise with do.

[Aces]

I'll bet 4-5x bb with multiple limpers and AK in late position. AI doesn't do anything that a decent raise with do.

Agreed. There's no benefit to AI here. If you push 4-5x and he still goes AI you have the option to fold with minimal damage.

You said it yourself jdubs...tight is right in the early stages. And probably don't bluff so much, that can be a bad leak.

[Wet_DreaMer]

I just watched Howard Lederer's video on Holdem, and he made a very interesting point that applys here. Basically he said that when you make such an aggressive overbet, you turn your AK into a 72o, because the only hands that will call you are AA, KK, and maybe QQ (personally I think your opponent made a stupid move to call you with just JJ). So basically you either pick up a few BB's, or get called and are dominated or a coinflip. You can't expect someone to call with AQ or AJ, unless they're a fish.

I agree basically with whats been said here, however I used to employ the all in strategy with AK, in SnGs and MTTs alike.

You would be amazed at the amount of times I was mirrored, or dominated an AQs AJ, even A10 that they just couldnt lay down.
If not often I would win a coin flip against a lower pair.

This isnt from theory, rather experience.

[jdubs]

thanks for the feedback guys- much appreciated!

[iwa]

Pretty much what everyone else has outlined here, stay out of toss ups early on, there is no reason to enter them. Try reading some of the guides around the forums.. gl on your ventures