In order to win we got to beat all other two cards combos under KKings and all other AKings as well. Here is how is done.
AK suited or unsuited is the strongest no-pair hand in No Limit Hold’em. It holds very good equity against all hands if we can see all five cards. If we hold 22 to QQ is 46%, up against KK is 30%, up against AA we have 8% and against anything else we have a huge advantage. Therefore, AK can be played really strong as it performs well against every hand except AA/KK and we hold a blocker to even that and cut all AA or KK combos in half.
A great majority of live No Limit Hold'em players (California and Las Vegas) even winning players play AK far too weakly. Most of them think the AK is a drawing hand, therefore they only call raises to hit the flop or fold after the flop if they missed. Playing AK this way guaranty the lowest earn possible for the hand. The lack of reciprocal edge by playing AK softly alone demonstrates why we should no play AK softly. If we play AK in a defensive manner rather than offensive then our hand playing is basically really weak which breads an entirely weak overall game plan.
Let’s do a few examples to show you what I mean by that:
Regular 2-5 game, 100bb effective, hero is a unknown to the villain but the hero does know that the villain is tourist pleasure player basically playing his own two cards. Non aggressive demeanor at the table and maybe I can call him just a soccer dad, if you will.
Hero opens 3bb to $15 UTG and the villain two seats to our left 3-bets us all-in 40bb to $200. What we do here? ..., Well, what’s his range? - I would say that his rage in the normal run-of-the-mill 2-5 game would be probably QQ+, mostly with just maybe few AK sprinkle in. We’re pounded by this range, we are out of position and this hand reeks of reverse implied odds. Therefore, I fold. This is probably considered sacrilegious by many to fold an AK preflop there is, but I can assure you that if you are not folding an AK some preflop you are leaking quite a bit.
Now, let’s take a look at another one:
2-5 game, 100bb effective. Hero is basically unknown at the table and however has seen a younger seemingly aggressive villain over play 99, TT, JJ. KQ, KJ, AJ, AT preflop by 3-bet them often. The hero opens to $20 in late middle position and the villain quick 3-bets to $75.
What is the hero do? .., Well, what is his rage? - I would say, here on average his range would be 99+, AK for sure and possible AQs, AJs maybe even AQo. Having said that I will 4bet to an amount that the villain is unable to flat and reevaluate after the flop. I’m gonna put him to a push fold decision. This amount I would imagine would be around $200. Placing this amount of pressure on the TT, JJ and QQ will many times produce folds as is plainly obvious to the villain that he has zero fold equity if he shoves. Many times this type of villain elects not to stack-up for TT, JJ and even QQ which is a huge plus for us.
We must always think about what the villain most likely has or he most likely would do with it. This is how we decide on our bet size with which we attempt to get any specific job.