Hi guys,

Twice in the last hour, I have not managed to deny the temptation to call a raise that puts me all-in when I have had AK...

What's worse is that the first time, it was against 7-10 off and he hit a straight.

Would you call with it if it puts you all in early on in a tournament?

Early in the tournament when there is a deep stack game, AK is definitely a hand to fold faced all in for me.

For me, the last time the AK became a non-playable hand, non-stop losing All-In with a pair of opponents.
I generally recommend playing the minimum raise. Then there are many ways to play - Finally high hand.
Do not break up, it's a temporary lack of happiness

Avoid temptation with a lot of hands, post flop. AK becomes just a couple of worthless cards in a hurry. Feels safe, warm, nice, but is really false. Buy in if you like, at your risk.

Ak is overplayed all the time,it`s not even a pair,,yet.And even then,you can lose easily.

@terryk, I just talked about it. You are holy right .

Unless you have a big stack and your opponent is much smaller, you can risk it.

It all depends on 3 factors. The player putting me all in, the buy in of the tournament, and the mood I'm in. If it's online and a low buy in which you need to get top 3 to get a good profit then you gotta take that into account. Don't get super upset when you lose to 7-10 you weren't that far ahead. If you get beat by A10 off then that's a little worse but still when someone calls with worse cards you are going to win in the long run just remember that. If I'm feeling on fire it's an easy call.

ok cool

A-K is an easily beatable hand, no way all in early.

yup

Originally Posted by Kingcooper

Hi guys,

Twice in the last hour, I have not managed to deny the temptation to call a raise that puts me all-in when I have had AK...

What's worse is that the first time, it was against 7-10 off and he hit a straight.

Would you call with it if it puts you all in early on in a tournament?

Depends on your opponent playing style. If it was any 2 shoving guy, or playing every second hand, I would definitely call. In this particular case, AK vs 10-7 is 66% favourite. Of course, we loose with AK sometimes vs donks, but you'll be winning at least 2 times out of 3 in similar situatuons. Isn't it about winning with premium hands in poker?

Of course, in the early stage it is a 50/50 decision, e.g. your opponent was a TAG, playing couple of hands, and you feel he is pushing only really monster hands, then you should lean towards folding.

I actually observed many times the tendency of pushing AK, AQ in early stages, assuming that they probably have no clue how to play them post-flop if they dont hit.

Your call was correct given that you knew he was a loose player. JIMO

this is a very good hand to raise all in always do not see too aggressive aggression or any movement that speculates an AA

Thanks guys. Quite a varied opinion really. I have folded AK preflop in the past at the casino but in this case, it was pre flop and on Pokerstars so I figured calling was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, it seems that if you start ahead on pokerstars, you're guaranteed to lose. I'll have to keep that in mind haha.

I don't consider AK in anyway to be a good hand with the percentage of times I've actually won with it but it's nice to see what people think about the hand

if it's freeroll then all in with AK, if not then selectively, focusing on opponents

Originally Posted by taurusix

Depends on your opponent playing style. If it was any 2 shoving guy, or playing every second hand, I would definitely call. In this particular case, AK vs 10-7 is 66% favourite. Of course, we loose with AK sometimes vs donks, but you'll be winning at least 2 times out of 3 in similar situatuons. Isn't it about winning with premium hands in poker?

Of course, in the early stage it is a 50/50 decision, e.g. your opponent was a TAG, playing couple of hands, and you feel he is pushing only really monster hands, then you should lean towards folding.

I actually observed many times the tendency of pushing AK, AQ in early stages, assuming that they probably have no clue how to play them post-flop if they dont hit.

Your call was correct given that you knew he was a loose player. JIMO

I agree with this but to build on it Id also say depends how short stacked the shover is - the shorter the stack the more loss the shove is likely to be and therefore the stronger your AK call is likely to be.

Originally Posted by Thenightrain

I agree with this but to build on it Id also say depends how short stacked the shover is - the shorter the stack the more loss the shove is likely to be and therefore the stronger your AK call is likely to be.

Agree with you, the fact of being short stacked gives us even easier decision. However, in the early stage there are very few shorties, as a rule.

AK is first and foremost a pretty strong hand, and it's too obvious to play it straight, I have to look for a balance

Such hands should be played. The distance will all return.

AK hand for fish I do not like it

For me it depends on position and on stage of a tourney. If bad position and too early, then better do a fold, if necessary.
=^..^=

I support tactics of average raise

AK I always play differently if I'm much ahead of the aggressive but if the beginning of the tournament it quietly and if the smell of fried take off fast.

Originally Posted by Kingcooper

Hi guys,

Twice in the last hour, I have not managed to deny the temptation to call a raise that puts me all-in when I have had AK...

What's worse is that the first time, it was against 7-10 off and he hit a straight.

Would you call with it if it puts you all in early on in a tournament?

Calling an all in is so much different than raising all in. I prefer not to call an all in with AK unless I'm either short stacked or the other player is very aggressive. However, I raise all in with AK much more often. It's just such a dangerous hand to call off all your chips with. Any two under cards and you may be in trouble. A pair of 2s and your tournament life is on the line. AK isn't even a hand yet, it's simply ace high.

AK is of course a good hand, you can play aggressively with the pre-flop, well, and then look what card has fallen into a slap and make the right decision.

Here I learned that AK is not a winning hand at all in a pre-flop situation, so change my way of playing it and depending on my position will be my bet that usually is from a BB up to 3 BB as maximum. Take into account that this hand is losing any other pair that a player has in their hands if your A or K do not appear in that hand. I have seen how many players play all in this hand before any situation even play all in an A accompanied by any other card but that we know is more than incorrect. Be patient and lucky at the tables.

EARLY in a tournament I'm usually going to take the bait with AK, of course after taking into consideration who I'm playing against and how tight/loose/aggressive they are. I'd rather take the chance and hopefully put myself in a position of strength EARLY --- or, move on having not wasted a couple of hours playing defensively. Plus, if I'm going to be at this particular table for a while, I want the other players to know that I'm not to be easily toyed with.

AK is a expectative hand.. no more. 50% 50% to flip vs 10 7off.

at the beginning of a tournament I play conservatively AK

Originally Posted by fabiancampos

AK is a expectative hand.. no more. 50% 50% to flip vs 10 7off.

No, it's not.

can be tough to fold AK but if early and puts your mtt life at risk probably best to wait, and if hand is 3 way or more definitely reduces your chances
gl

Always consider how deep are you stacked. Going all in pre flop with AK is not worth it preflop, because its just ace high if you don't hit anything and you will be almost flipping most of the time, and when you face any pair you will be on the short side. Don't do it, simply don't. There is no real deal in this. When you get AK and are deep stacked just remember that last time you made the crucial mistake and don't repeat it. If you are short, however, dont worry to ship it right there and hope to win the flip

It's just that it's very often that no ace does not come and you lose

Big slick always looks so nice in one's hand, it is easy to go wild with it. Personally, I am more inclined to get aggressive with it early in a tournament, when I am trying to build my stack and more cautious later on when I have a substantial amount of chips. In any case, remember what Doyle Brunson said regarding AK: He has won more hands with a pair of two's than with Big Slick during the many years he has played.

The thing that hurts is when they have kk in their hand and the flop comes up AK6 and you think you still have a better hand so you raise and he pushes you all in and then calls and you lose it all now your out of the tournament.

depends on your situation, sometimes there is no escape

AK is a pretty good hand, but don't go crazy if somebody is re-raising you, he could have a pair and of course don't go crazy if he's putting you all-in.
Always try to see the flop before to take any desicion.

Originally Posted by Kingcooper

Hi guys,



Twice in the last hour, I have not managed to deny the temptation to call a raise that puts me all-in when I have had AK...



What's worse is that the first time, it was against 7-10 off and he hit a straight.



Would you call with it if it puts you all in early on in a tournament?

Early in the tournament it’s hard to justify risking it all. Nothing worse than losing like that. It’s better to wait until you build up your stack and call all in with smaller stacks or later in the tournament with that kind of hand. Good luck at controlling your urges to call in the future.

Hello brow! I had the same trouble today. I lost a hand with AQs, but i was against AA and i was in earling position and 3bet and only one guy on my left payed. The flop were 3s 6h 2d, i was the first to act and i bet 1/2 pot he got back all in and i called!!! I was wrong from the beging of the hand!
It's begging of the tournament and did everything wrong. I didnt judge my opponent, and didnt thought about the positions. I only pay with the worst hand, but happens The time for blef or semi blef is not the time i thought.
So its all depends the condition of tournament, how is your stack, how the odders are playing.

I love to play AK, such a fun hand

I think the actual correct play is to fold if it is early in a tournament, unless you are feeling lucky.

I still call with it tho.

AK are always good cards at my. if I feel they are good enough i go all in

- "Super Premium Hand", AA-JJ, AK: 94.1% chance with two players still to act, and 91.3% chance with three players to act. So thinking about it all depends on the position and number of players answering your move .

depends on the tournament situation if it is at the beginning of a tournament, it is a mini raise or a call, now if it is the final game of a tournament and just drop the All in and pray for the opponent, I did not come with AA KK rsrs!