NL Holdem, AK, and firing the second barrel on turn?

[ThorsHmr]

Just starting to play NL holdem with some frequency, and am curious as to what others have to say regarding the following situation...

- Assumptions:
- 25NL or lower
- Big stacks (~100BB) at the table.
- Usual mix of loose and tight opponents but w/no maniacs.

- Hero is dealt AK utg (or EP, or 1st in) and makes standard raise (3-4xbb).

- Scenario #1: A single caller with position on Hero.
- Scenario #2: 2 or more callers with position on Hero.

Hero's usual line...

Scenario 1: Hero makes a Cbet and gets called. Hero check/folds the turn unimproved when villian bets.
Q: What's the plan on the turn if another brick falls and Villian bets? Should Hero fire the second barrel (w/half PSB) to try and take the pot?

Scenario 2: Hero checks and it's checked around to see a free turn card.
Q: Again, on the turn, what's the plan? Fire the second barrel? Check/fold unless the board pairs one of Hero's cards?

In both cases, I think I'm being pushed out of pots on the turn (or river) when my opponents put me on AK (ie am I being overly weak-tight in these situations?)

I realize there are no cookie-cutter approaches to this and the standard "it depends" applies, but I'm curious to see what most of you would do in these situations.

Thanks!

[sejje]

I used to think I was being overly weak-tight also.

Nowadays I'm more inclined to believe them. I think more often at low-limits people aren't pushing you off of AK without a pair.

The question is do you want to try and push them off of their small/medium pair?

Maybe at higher limits this would be weak-tight, but I really believe in our stakes these guys are trying to have their pair hold up. Just sting 'em with your big pairs.

[Irisheyes]

Just starting to play NL holdem with some frequency, and am curious as to what others have to say regarding the following situation...

- Assumptions:
- 25NL or lower
- Big stacks (~100BB) at the table.
- Usual mix of loose and tight opponents but w/no maniacs.

- Hero is dealt AK utg (or EP, or 1st in) and makes standard raise (5xbb).

- Scenario #1: A single caller with position on Hero.
Make a standard c-bet, if it gets called I'm in check/fold mode for the rest of the hand.
If it gets raised I fold unless I'm getting 7 -1 odds on the call.

- Scenario #2: 2 or more callers with position on Hero.
With less then 3 callers I'll c-bet into them. A larger bet then with only 1 caller though. Usually 2/3 pot. Again a call or fold means I'm in check/fold mode.

I dont like firing the second barrel at low stake NL because there is just too many loose/passives who will call you down with crap hands (though still good enough to beat your A high). The first c-bet is ok but after that I think the opp has a enough invested in the hand to cause him to turn fishy and be unable to fold.

[strawman]

I'll hit preflop and be prepared to run on the flop. If the flop doesn't coordinate well with my AK I'm willing to throw the hand away for even if I hit one of my cards on the turn I might be butting my head against someone who hits their second pair or it increases the stregnth of their draw. I'll date with Queens, domestic partner with Kings, and too often marry Aces, but an AK is just a fling for me.