Playing AK in Pre-Flop All-in situations

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Miggidymo

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Total noob here and I'm very probably going at this all wrong. Especially that my AK is unsuited and i am holding an un-made hand. But i would like some clarification here on the matter of "AK and pre-flop all-in". Correct me if i'm wrong but i'm starting to believe it is just a situation i should avoid all-together if another player raises. Anyways all input and comments would be much appreciated thanx!

The situation below depicts a situation where the villain raised such a significant amount that it was a quasi-all-in.

$0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players

SB: 99 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, hands: 4)
Hero (BB): 37 BB
UTG: 106 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
UTG+1: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
MP: 40 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
MP+1: 212.5 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
MP+2: 129 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
CO: 89 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
BTN: 143.5 BB (VPIP: 75.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 100.00, Hands: 4)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K A

UTG raises to 3.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP+2 raises to 7 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 6 BB, UTG raises to 26 BB, MP+2 calls 19 BB, Hero raises to 37 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 11 BB, MP+2 calls 11 BB

Flop: (111.5 BB, 3 players) K 3 J
UTG checks, MP+2 checks

Turn: (111.5 BB, 3 players) 6
UTG bets 69 BB and is all-in, fold

River: (111.5 BB, 2 players) T

Hero shows K A (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 7%, Flop 8%, Turn 5%)
UTG shows A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 93%, Flop 92%, Turn 95%)
UTG wins 105 BB
 
M

Mauno

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Micro stake games overall are more chaotic.
Theoretically You didnt very bad but opponent had just better hand this time.
To avoid that.. just dont go all in and fold if somebody shows aggression.
Play only sets or better ;)
 
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Comesons

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There was nothing wrong at all. Its just a cooler it happens. But when the agressor raised the second time you know its probably sets of T or better but again its still a flip
 
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ninoverm

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Getting it all-in with 37 blinds is completely fine. You can just reshove once it gets to you here in the BB. You have at least 50% equity against every hand except AA and KK, both of which you block (it's less likely your opponent holds aces or kings because you're holding one of both). Many hands that you're a favourite against (AQ, AJ, KQ) could call as well.
 
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Miggidymo

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Thank you guys for your input. I was actually thinking I was doing something seriously wrong, and starting to question basic poker theory. Thanks for clearing that up.
 
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Miggidymo

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There was nothing wrong at all. Its just a cooler it happens. But when the agressor raised the second time you know its probably sets of T or better but again its still a flip

You have a good point here. Although the play in itself was correct, I should have felt that something fishy was going on when Villain went for a second raise. Duely noted. I'll keep an eye out for that on my next AK. Thank you for your input.
 
thetick33

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i like the way you played this just unlucky remember even the worst players can wake up with aa :) thats the rule did you get a tingling in stomach? even if didnt go all in preflop king hits your calling or going all in. This is just a hand you forget about as soon as it played

also to como what he said we only have one hand to decipher? guy had a huge amount of big blinds so probably pretty aggro or id think he was if just sat down myself? I wouldnt think much on that second raise just that yep he has something do I want to gamble?

anything under qq im happy here for 2 bucks myself or whatever is at stack here at this amount you are playing

i have one rule myself to ring games if I cant light it on fire its not at the table:)

Is a safe rule and why id have done what you did all day..
 
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karl coakley

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I think it was a bad play. When you have a raise and re-reaise followed by another re-raise, why would you think AK is good?

That would be an easy fold for me. This is an example of how people overplay AK. I don't want to be 3 handed with AA let alone AK. The more players in the pot the more your hand shrinks up. You have to be able to lay down AK in situations like that. Your most likely only 30% to win against any 2 random hands that are shoving. That is not how you want to get all your chips in. If someone has AA or KK your just donating chips.
 
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ivanbbb

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standard situation! not rastraivaytes time will come and it will be easier!
 
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Miggidymo

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Thank you all for your input... After playing a few more hours i have come to the conclusion that today is just not my day to play with AK. Following the situation described above, I have had 3 more AK hands cracked, over a relatively small sample approx. 200 hands, by underdogs (A3, J9, AQ) all within less than 24hrs (including the initial AK hand described above cracked pre-flop all-in when faced with AA) :mad:...

See for yourselves. I myself am amazed and am starting to believe that the AK hands have sent each other a memo to conspire against me...

60/120 Ante 10 NL - Holdem - 9 players

MP+1: 24.1 BB (VPIP: 54.17, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
Hero (MP+2): 15.33 BB
CO: 7.17 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 8)
BTN: 73.92 BB (VPIP: 29.17, PFR: 4.17, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 24)
SB: 20.25 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 5.88, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
BB: 18.75 BB (VPIP: 5.88, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
UTG: 8.92 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
UTG+1: 28.25 BB (VPIP: 15.38, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 13)
MP: 65.5 BB (VPIP: 73.91, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 16.67, Hands: 24)

9 players post ante of 0.08 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.25 BB) Hero has K A

fold, fold, MP calls 1 BB, MP+1 raises to 24.02 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 15.25 BB and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, fold, MP calls 23.02 BB

Flop: (65.53 BB, 3 players) 3 8 9

Turn: (65.53 BB, 3 players) T

River: (65.53 BB, 3 players) 4

MP shows A 3 (One Pair, Threes)

Main Pot [48 BB]: (Pre 19%, Flop 65%, Turn 67%)
Side Pot#1 [17.53 BB]: (Pre 38%, Flop 76%, Turn 74%)

MP+1 shows 7 A (High Card, Ace)

Main Pot [48 BB]: (Pre 24%, Flop 22%, Turn 26%)
Side Pot#1 [17.53 BB]: (Pre 62%, Flop 24%, Turn 26%)

Hero shows K A (High Card, Ace)

Main Pot [48 BB]: (Pre 56%, Flop 13%, Turn 7%)

MP wins 65.53 BB

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100/200 Ante 20 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players


SB: 13.18 BB (VPIP: 35.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
Hero (BB): 22.99 BB
UTG: 7.13 BB (VPIP: 35.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
MP: 7 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 26.32, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
CO: 18.02 BB (VPIP: 35.00, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)
BTN: 6.7 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 20)

6 players post ante of 0.1 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.1 BB) Hero has A K

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, UTG raises to 7.03 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 4.03 BB

Flop: (15.15 BB, 2 players) 3 9 4

Turn: (15.15 BB, 2 players) 8

River: (15.15 BB, 2 players) K

Hero shows A K (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 76%, Flop 55%, Turn 75%)
UTG shows Q A (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 24%, Flop 45%, Turn 25%)
UTG wins 15.15 BB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

75/150 Ante 20 NL (6 max) FAST - Holdem - 6 players


BTN: 27.5 BB (VPIP: -, PFR: -, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
SB: 36.73 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): 14.42 BB
UTG: 63.17 BB
MP: 24.97 BB
CO: 11.47 BB

6 players post ante of 0.13 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.3 BB) Hero has K A

fold, fold, CO calls 1 BB, BTN calls 1 BB, SB calls 0.5 BB, Hero raises to 2 BB, CO calls 1 BB, BTN calls 1 BB, SB calls 1 BB

Flop: (8.8 BB, 4 players) K 9 2
SB checks, Hero bets 4.4 BB, fold, BTN raises to 25.37 BB and is all-in, fold, Hero calls 7.89 BB and is all-in

Turn: (33.37 BB, 2 players) J

River: (33.37 BB, 2 players) 3

BTN shows J 9 (Two Pair, Jacks and Nines)
(Pre 38%, Flop 20%, Turn 82%)
Hero shows K A (One Pair, Kings)
(Pre 62%, Flop 80%, Turn 18%)
BTN wins 33.37 BB
 
S

skaterick

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ak off + ak suited are better allin hands in multi table tournaments .Once you reach the level where the blinds kick in , the shorter stacks will have to start committing their chips with sub premium hands . Bigger stacks will be calling with a wider range as well .However, in cash ring games, the solid regulars who are 4 betting will usually have excellent cards !
 
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ninoverm

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I think it was a bad play. When you have a raise and re-reaise followed by another re-raise, why would you think AK is good?

That would be an easy fold for me. This is an example of how people overplay AK. I don't want to be 3 handed with AA let alone AK. The more players in the pot the more your hand shrinks up. You have to be able to lay down AK in situations like that. Your most likely only 30% to win against any 2 random hands that are shoving. That is not how you want to get all your chips in. If someone has AA or KK your just donating chips.

I really don't get this 'AK is an overplayed hand' hype. If you're not prepared to put in 37 BB pre with AK you're not gonna win tournaments.

'Your most likely only 30% to win against any 2 random hands that are shoving.' No. You're 50%+ against any hand except KK and AA, both of which you block. Combine that with the fold equity you're getting by shoving and you've got a winning play by a mile.
 
ubo

ubo

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At micro limits can be anything, because many simply do not care for the money
 
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2dizzYMATH

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Personally i dont even need to read the hand to say that in a MW pot once UTG 4bet and mp2 calls im folding. Also im not quite sure why you would call call a 3bet to then re-raise a 4bet? In a multiway pot?
 
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kaueue

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Eu jogaria igual a você, inclusive hoje cai em dois torneios com jogadas bem parecidas, infelizmente acontece.. :(
 
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CallmeFloppy

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Opening example - I don't like the preflop calls in this one. UTG started off the hand leading out under the gun representing a real hand. I think this is a a fold as I am pretty sure that I am up against a pocket pair and will be all in at some point.

Example 2 - You got unlucky - no concerns

Example 3 and 4 - I would make larger raises. You are doing nothing by adding a unit to the pot after everyone already put in. The pot odds are much sweeter the second time around. You likely would have won pre-flop on example 4 and possibly on example 3 if your opponent did not already decide to go.
 
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