How to play AK?

I was wanting to know how to play AK. I guess they say raise preflop 3x-5x the BB. I like to push allin preflop. I feel I can't get bet out on the flop if I don't pair the board. Therefore I get two more draws to hit too. thoughts?

If you have a single rule in playing AK in any situation than you're playing it absolutely wrong. It's situational base. an entire book can be written to answer that general question.

pushing all in preflop with AK is a poor decision. its not a made hand. Raise with it. If you don't hit, then fold. simple. If its raised to you from early position, call the raise. if you don't hit, fold.

AK, the Anna Kournakova hand. Looks great but rarely wins. Here is an idea of how I play AK:

AK out of position: stiff raise to persuade everyone to my left to fold.
AK with a few limpers: 3xBB + 1BB for every limper.

AK misses the flop: What type of action is on my right. What pot odds are they giving me. If you get the right odds, call. If you don't, fold.

AK players check to me: Put in a continuation bet of about 1/2 pot. If it takes down the pot, great. If someone raises. fold. If someone calls, see what the turn is. Player that calls usually checks to you, see what the river is for free if the turn is a blank. If the is a A or K, bet for value on the river.

AK when blinds and antes are high and you are in late position and everyone folds to you: shove.

Heads up: shove.

These are basic ideas. Sometimes it deviates if I have the betting patterns of certain players.

sigh....

IT DEPENDS!

seriously, stack sizes, position, limit, player reads, bla bla bla...

there is not one way to always play AK cmon guys

Im actually seriously fed up with the way people think of Ace King. As stated before, Its not a made hand. People think so highly of this hand and usually play it poorly Like All In Pre Flop, All in even if your not hitting your cards. I think A K should be played just like any 2 other face cards, Cautiously. But then again....... Im ALL IN :P Hope that helps

I play it like I have AA/KK until someone fights back. If I miss and someone plays back I will give it up.

True, true, but beware the cooler small/middle slow set!
Otherwise.... GL
Peace,
FLOW

This is funny. Every hand is different based on the situation OBV. A few simple pointers for tournament play. Late in a tournament with less than 10Ms and usually more, I shove preflop with this hand. You will go broke doing this early in tourneys or in cash games. Doyle loves AK because its easy to fold when you miss. This is not saying he doesnt C bet it some of the time. C betting is also situational. Depends on how many players are in the pot and what we know about them. Remember this hand busts a ton of people. Most play it poorly. 3 barrels when you miss is a horrible idea.

On a lighter note. Anna Kournakova can play it however she likes and if she cant find a chair at the poker table, my face will always be available...LOL

Play AK how you would play it. You would not play AK the same way all the time. It probably would depend on your chipstack, or your mood if you don't care.

I think it's funny how there are as many opinions as there are card combination and ways to play it. If you can see the flop cheap, I say call.