cant give u specifics on how to play it, too many variables and scenarios for that, gotta see a flop with it regardless, if u hit flop, go from there, if u miss....FOLD
I posted these thoughts in another thread, but I think they are worth repeating here:
The advantages of AK are mostly in it's preflop value:
1. Fold equity. This is the biggest advantage of AK. For me it is almost alway a REraising hand preflop. For you to take advantage of this, you MUST play it aggressively (your opponent must fold). Small pairs can't really call you for fear that you have a bigger pair when you play it aggressively. If you do get called, even by something like QQ, you are still only a slight dog.
2. Pre-flop dominating hand. This is mostly applicable against donks who will call you with Ax soooooded. Inversely, you are only really dominated vs AA or KK (and you have about 30% vs KK).
3. Post flop your top pair always has top kicker when you hit.
Obviously when your opponent goes all in he has neutralized AK's biggest advantage as he can no longer fold. Against two random cards that don't include either and ace or a king you are not that big of a favorite with five to come, as other posters pointed out. But you don't ever really want to be calling an all in with very many hands (AA and KK excepted)-- YOU want to be the one doing the raising or pushing.
Just to look at it another way, let's compare AK to a small pair, say 55.
AK is a dominating hand. IF your raise is called you are (most likely) either:
1. way ahead (vs. a weaker ace)
OR
2. in a 50/50ish race.
With 55 you are (most likely) either:
1. way behind (vs. a bigger pair)
OR
2. in a 50/50ish race.
See the difference?
I'll tell you who I'm gonna call...thanks for the advice .. after reading the comments im coming to the conclusionim that ive been over playing it. i play a lot of multi table torneys so tend to play a do or die game with it. over raise and then feel pot committed. or go all in if theres a few early callers before i act...after all ur right it is only ace high top notch advice ...my poker can only improve on this site. so watch out theres a ghost about lol nice 1 .......
The biggest problem I see with A K is people do is way over value it.
Suited AK- Raise big if my stack is getting too small...You have a higher probability of winning unless the other person has a pocketed pair...This is why if you're in the middle or late position, you raise accordingly in relation to how much another person raised, if any1 did.
If my stack is large enough, I would conserve chips and not raise too much.
A drawing hand that needs help.
NO. No, it's not a "drawing hand" (no matter what Lee Jones wrote in his low buy-in LIMIT book). In fact AK has plenty of showdown value unimproved in the right situations (ideally hu) against the right players.
See above.
I guess I am one of those who overvalue it. But I am in good company, Doyle says in SuperSystem that when you have AK it is such a powerful hand that you should go all in preflop, because otherwise you may chicken out if the flop does not hit you. Soooo, I go all in preflop
I swear if I read that AK is a "drawing hand" again I'm going to melt. AG has spelled it out perfectly and you really can't disagree with his post about preflop value. Yes, it's obvious that unimproved it's generally good not to continue without reads, but that's besides the point.
But dueces are folding to any c-bet exept the hit there set.Its a "drawing hand" start melting .Maybe it is not a" drawing hand". However, in my meager experience I always view it valueable only after it hits the flop. It is not a "made hand" prelop dueces beat it. Since its not made I believe it is of the drawing nature. But if I am wrong will readly admit it. I'm just a beginner poker player with a lot to learn.
Do u play unsuited AK any diffrent? and if the anwser is yes,why?
And shouldnt u raise more when u have more chips to bully?
sound like a strange play to me