QUESTION ON AK!!

ok so i was playing pot limit hold em, i was on the button and there was 1 caller so i raised the pot with AK suited, now SB folds and the BB re-raises the pot, the original caller folds and its on me to call or not for all my chips.
So at this point im positive he hasnt got AA or KK - so its more than likely he has a low pair here (it turned out he did becuse i called and lost!). I'm wandering should i be wanting to get all my chips in before the flop with AK if im sure im up against a low pair???

Nice question, but it's hard to answer without more information (poker is a lot more than just hand versus hand!). What was the size of the pot? How many chips did you have left? What position would you have been in if you folded? How much did you raise, and how much did he re-raise? You cant be sure you're up against a low pair - he could have AQ, KQs or just be gambling that you fold. If you are assuming low pair, then it's a "coin flip" - you've got roughly 50/50 chance to win (he's slightly the favourite). If your in a bad position chipwise and winning the pot would put you back in the mix then call. If you think you are a better player than opponent and have a healthy enough stack then fold, but i would want a lot more info before making proper stab at answer!

Well you have gotten some decent advice already completely depends on the situation. Generally speaking you want to get a lot of money in the pot with AK but it totally depends on the circumstances in which you find yourself.

yer i suppose it does all depend on the situation - AK just seems a tricky hand to play especialy if someone is putting you to a decision before a flop because even those pocket deuces have ya beat!! to be honest i think it was a bad play by the other guy, he re raised all in with 66 so at best he was only ever guna be 50/50.

zapedy said:

yer i suppose it does all depend on the situation - AK just seems a tricky hand to play especialy if someone is putting you to a decision before a flop because even those pocket deuces have ya beat!! to be honest i think it was a bad play by the other guy, he re raised all in with 66 so at best he was only ever guna be 50/50.

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If you know you are a bette player than this guy and you fear he has a PP, then lay the hand down. As you have a drawing hand your tournament is with the poker 'gods' and you need to draw

Personally if I know I can win a table without requiring a draw, I would lay down AK and wait for a PP. Sure you may regret laying down but big slick is more of a 'push around hand'. This basically means its great to raise and push players around with, but not so great when facing a tough call v 2 all-in players.

A lot does depends on the situation. I was playing last night and I was low stack at the table. I was dealy AJos and went all-in, 2nd to act. No callers and picked up nice blinds. Next hand I got AJs UTG. After thinking for a few seconds, I decided I would probably get called and didnt want to put my tourney on a draw. I folded and two players went all in. One flipped AQ, other guy JJ.

So a lot does depend on the situation you find yourself in. But remember, HU AK is very strong

There are times when you want all your chips in the middle preflop. When the situation is right it is better to have all your chips in preflop, just so you can see all 5 cards. Nothing worse than to have a drawing hand and fold it on the turn to see it hit on the river.

I could see pushing but not calling all-in with it. Calling and pushing are two different things.
AK is sometimes underestimated. It is an extremely powerful draw. Long term this is a hand that wins big pots heads up and multi way. When the BB pushes over your over raise. fold.
So.
1.) Early or middle position open limps.
2.) You appropriately punish limper in position with absolute primary power.
3.) BB now pushes, which eliminates your positional advantage. Positional advantage is very important with AK. It is the nature of AK to be played after the flop. Original limper is now punished, and converted to dead money. Your AK is a dog 16 ways. 4 ways you draw dead. 4 ways you push and 8 ways you lose. We fold now. The big blind isn't kidding.

Now stack sizes, blind sizes, player tendencies are all dependent.

One question, you state that you are positive he does'nt have AA, or KK...
how are you positive?

gfpokerfan said:

There are times when you want all your chips in the middle preflop. When the situation is right it is better to have all your chips in preflop, just so you can see all 5 cards. Nothing worse than to have a drawing hand and fold it on the turn to see it hit on the river.

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Well tbh there are worse things. Your statement demonstrates your lack of understanding about, quite likely the very first concept you should learn in order to become a winning player and that is you don't want to be "drawing" you want to be the one who is being drawn on! In other words you want to be in hands where you are a favorite to win. I am in no way trying to put you down or disrespect you. I know what I am saying sounds extrememly simple but your post just screamed at me to try and put you on a better poker path.

If you know he has a low pair, you must ask yourself if you push will he fold?

If you think he will fold often, a push is a good move. However, if you do not want to take a coinflip situation you might consider folding here.

Personally, I would push and take the flip. A lot of times you are also up against a hand like AQs, AJs, KQs, etc.

"Your AK is a dog 16 ways. 4 ways you draw dead. 4 ways you push and 8 ways you lose. We fold now. The big blind isn't kidding."

I dont get watcha mean here??

"One question, you state that you are positive he does'nt have AA, or KK...
how are you positive?"

well im no pro but just had a really strong feeling he didnt have a premium hand plus it was cheap night at the casino so you get some chumps playing dodgey hands - mind you it payed him off this time!

I like to get all my chips in when i think i have the best hand as a general rule,there are exceptions but i think as a "newbie" you should try and master "Pure Poker" before you try and expand your game to the next level. Here's a couple of examples (to confuse you no doubt!):

Lets say we are at the 10th hand in a $5 NL rebuy tourney, you've not really been at the table long enough to get a good "feel" of the players. Your on the button and there is 2 calls of the BB in front of you. You have AK and you raise 4 times the BB, the SB folds and the BB goes all-in and has you covered. I'd call in a flash. If he has AA or KK good luck to him, if he has AK you'll probably split the pot. If he has AQ,AJ,A10 or a middle pair (most likely, either that or making a move to steal) then your at worse a 50/50 and at best dominating him. You either double up or re-buy.

Now lets say the same tourney is at the final table, say 6 left. You're on the button again and the blinds are big. same thing happens. This time i would use whatever i had learnt about the BB's previous plays, and also consider the play of the callers (they may be prone to limping in with monsters). If i put him on AQ or less i'd call, if he had an upper middle pair i would seriously consider folding, if one of the callers is short stacked i might also consider folding if i knew he was going to get a call, after all its must harder to catch when there are 2 or 3 other players in. At this point you can justify saving your chips for a better spot.

Hope this helps, and don't forget that we all have differant styles, you need to find your own by trial and error.

Good Luck.

I'd have called him if you were 75% sure it was a low Pocket Pair.

You know an A or K hitting would double you up. Or even 3 more of the same suit. AK suited is solid against a low PP its a coin flip. And if its online an Ace always seems to hit on me when I have any PP that isnt ACES lol