Hand Advice

[Junkie]

I've recently ran into AK both on and off when UTG and I wasn't really sure how to play it? Any advice woud be appreciated

 

[red+black]

Live? Online? Limit? No Limit? Blinds? Ring game? Tournament? Number of Players?

 

[Crosby87]

Another key thing is, how was the table playing? A lot of raising? Everyone limping? Loose players, or tight players?

 

[red+black]

Also, your terminology is wrong. You say you ran into AK, but that usually means someone else had AK.

eg. I had AQ on the button but ran into AK on the Big Blind.

I assume by on and off you mean suited and offsuit, or more simply, AKs and AKo.

 

[Braddock]

Yeah, depends on a lot.

At a full table with lots of chips raise with it but don't get too attached to it. If you don't hit on the flop (which you probably won't) and there's only one or two players left you can throw in the standard half pot size bet, if anyone calls you're done with the hand. If you get a few callers just let the cards decide what you do with the hand. When it gets short-handed and the blinds are up you might start thinking about about check-raising and re-raising with it, but otherwise as long as you're out of position just play it like you'd play any other hand worth raising with.

Main thing is not to get too fancy with it just because it's in the top few hands. After all before the flop its only two high cards.

Edit: Just remembered there's a pretty good tip from Rafe Furst on this topic on FTP. http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/pro-tips-archive.php?player=Rafe%20Furst&tip=36

 

[Falchoon]

I've recently ran into AK both on and off when UTG and I wasn't really sure how to play it? Any advice woud be appreciated

In general

I raise and see who calls, I then put in a continuation bet similar to when I have Q's or 10's. (I don't play J's ) and go from there. I also like to bet when I hit, rather than slow play. Basically people seem to respect UTG betting more than say a button bet, so give the impression you have a pre flop monster.

Then be wary that you're out of position

It really is about a feel for the table, the problem with limping is if no-one raises, all of the last 4 to act are basically seeing free cards, flop comes K38 and you're thinking great until you see the BB has 38

 

[red+black]

I say no more advice until he bothers to post again.

 

[Crosby87]

Maybe we've been a tad harsh - but what we're trying to say, is that you really need to post all the right info so we can give advice. So much changes from situation to situation.

 

[camsmith]

Some very good advice in here though.

We probably do need to know a bit more info.. but generally you would raise with AK UTG.

 

[kolchak]

utg is ugly, you'd raise like someone else said, like any other good hand, you'd definitely play AK, but don't be doped into going all in.

 

[Crosby87]

Would anyone limp-raise UTG with A-K? I haven't done it before personally, but just a thought.

 

[Knowledge]

I do it from time to time.

 

[Armwarmer]

Would anyone limp-raise UTG with A-K? I haven't done it before personally, but just a thought.

It's good to do occasionally in order to blend your limp-raising range, or when you have a fairly full table.
That way, you can then set yourself up for a semi-bluff check-raise on the flop even if you miss. If the board isn't especially dangerous looking, you can check to the initial raiser, and repop him if he bets. He has to give you credit for a huge hand here, and due to the preflop limp/raise, unless he's a got a great hand you probably won't be called.
On the flipside, if he checks behind you fearing the checkraise, your preflop reraise has pretty much bought you a free turn card and also given you the ability to pick up the pot on the turn with a decent sized bet.

Having said this though, I prefer to play ace king pretty straightforwardly most of the time. Standard raise, or possibly a limp/call if its shorthanded. I will call most reraises but will probably fold to multiple repops or all ins behind me. The problem with limping with AK though, is you open the door for people to see cheap flops, and often you flop top pair and can be already solidly beaten. People could flop a low set, two pair or even a big draw that they won't budge from. In this situation the hand has strong negative implied odds because you'll often be betting with the intention of making or calling future bets when you may be heavily behind or drawing dead.

 

[Junkie]

Sorry for lack of details. Playing online no limit cash games .10/.25. But I just wanted some general advice for getting this hand in live games as well.

R & B, you knew exactly what I was talking about so don't carry on with the terminology crap...

 

[red+black]

I knew what you were talking about, but maybe you didn't know what you were talking about.

Lighten up ffs.

And your one line response is pathetic given how people have tried to help and probably will continue to provide assistance.

If you want advice, provide context.

 

[Braddock]

Geez it can get condescending around these parts.

 

[Junkie]

You're the one who needs to lighten up. Wasn't it you carrying on about correct terminology when you already understood what I was talking about?

I want advice on what people would do in a variety of circumstances.

Braddock, Falchoon and Armwarmer have all managed to give examples of how they'd play in different situations which is terrific, yet all you do is whine like pig.

 

[kolchak]

Would anyone limp-raise UTG with A-K? I haven't done it before personally, but just a thought.

Nah, If I didn't raise it I'd throw it away...

 

[Crosby87]

Sorry for lack of details. Playing online no limit cash games .10/.25. But I just wanted some general advice for getting this hand in live games as well.

R & B, you knew exactly what I was talking about so don't carry on with the terminology crap...

It's nothing personal, it's just the info we need to fully analyse the hand.

Poker is very situational - as I'm sure you'd know - things can change drastically from situation to situation. We could have simply replied with "UTG? AK? Raise that bitch." But in some situations, maybe not.

 

[Crosby87]

Nah, If I didn't raise it I'd throw it away...

I'm pretty much the same now. But I was just thinking about it. In an aggressive game, it could pick you up some dead money pre-flop... there's always the chance someone comes back over the top with a big pair, of course, though, and then you'd just release it.

And even then, it represents a limp-raise with Aces. Just a thought.

 

[Falchoon]

Next topic Pocket Jacks in the BB with 35 limpers.

Squeeze play, errr no


Texas Hold'em $0.25-$0.25 PL (Real Money), #323,381,989
Table Tetouan, 14 May 2007 10:02 AM ET
Seat 1: PingWatary ($3.25 in chips)
Seat 2: Rastahh ($11.90 in chips)
Seat 3: Sting ss ($29.50 in chips)
Seat 4: yahjyzhuq9 ($2.25 in chips)
Seat 5: Falchoon ($26.25 in chips) (JJ)
Seat 6: eepro88 ($5.60 in chips)
Seat 7: rattenfurz1 ($25.90 in chips)
Seat 9: osauigf ($25 in chips)
Seat 10: khufu111 ($35.40 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
yahjyzhuq9 posts blind ($0.25), Falchoon posts blind ($0.25).

PRE-FLOP
eepro88 calls $0.25, rattenfurz1 calls $0.25, osauigf folds, khufu111 calls $0.25, PingWatary folds, Rastahh calls $0.25, Sting ss folds, yahjyzhuq9 checks, Falchoon checks.

FLOP [board cards 4C,KH,7C ]
yahjyzhuq9 checks, Falchoon checks, eepro88 checks, rattenfurz1 bets $1.50, khufu111 folds, Rastahh folds, yahjyzhuq9 folds, Falchoon folds, eepro88 folds.

SHOWDOWN
rattenfurz1 wins $2.95.

 

[Daytripper]

Would anyone limp-raise UTG with A-K? I haven't done it before personally, but just a thought.

80% raise, 20% limp if its a full table and and I've been with the same players.

When raising, I usually put in a big one - about 4XBB.
Prefer to end the hand early.

If 1 caller and I miss the flop, then I put in a pot sized continuation bet. If 2 callers, will bet 60% of the time but it depends on table image of other 2 callers.

Am also wary if called by either of BB or SB and rags are flopped as its likely they have a low pair and could have hit trips.

6 or less players will usually predominately raise about 3XBB.
Don't mind getting called.

But there are a heap of other factors as mentioned before.

 

[Junkie]

It's nothing personal, it's just the info we need to fully analyse the hand.

Poker is very situational - as I'm sure you'd know - things can change drastically from situation to situation. We could have simply replied with "UTG? AK? Raise that bitch." But in some situations, maybe not.

Yeah I know it's not personal...it was just annoying that someone was sooking about the correct terminology when they knew what I meant.

There are obviously many factors which come into it, most of which have been covered

A problem I've had is not getting any callers after raising from UTG and just taking the blinds. Would you say my expectations of AK are too high? Should I be happy taking the blinds? As a few people have mentioned, limping in often allows the BB to check and gives a tough read after the flop.

 

[Daytripper]

Would you say my expectations of AK are too high?

Yes

Should I be happy taking the blinds?

Yes

 

[kolchak]

I'm pretty much the same now. But I was just thinking about it. In an aggressive game, it could pick you up some dead money pre-flop... there's always the chance someone comes back over the top with a big pair, of course, though, and then you'd just release it.

And even then, it represents a limp-raise with Aces. Just a thought.

Yeah, worth a go on super aggressive players.