El Viajero
Rock Star
Silver Level
Being the loose beginner I am I play a raise preflop and call any re-raises. The group of players I usually play with are novices themselves so in my case an AKo is a fairly strong hand. Online I still do the same but currently I am only playing .50/$1 limit SNGs so the play there is fairly loose too. I guess that when I move up in the game I will have to change my strategy.
Osmann
Rock Star
Silver Level
AK is a very strong starting hand and I always raise with it preflop. Ofcourse you only have a 36% chance you will actually hit something on the flop, so I don't expect it to be a sure winner like I expect AA to be(although I always loose with AA 
). I don't have any problems with laying it down either after the flop if I don't hit and somebody shows aggresion cause I know I'm beat then.
The good thing about AK is if you do hit the flop, you will have top pair with top kicker and very often you will find yourself in a dominating position, thus giving you the best hand and maybe 1 or more persons with good hands calling you down to the river with hands like AJ or AQ.
So to sum up. If you hit the flop along with 1 other player you will often win a big pot.
). I don't have any problems with laying it down either after the flop if I don't hit and somebody shows aggresion cause I know I'm beat then.The good thing about AK is if you do hit the flop, you will have top pair with top kicker and very often you will find yourself in a dominating position, thus giving you the best hand and maybe 1 or more persons with good hands calling you down to the river with hands like AJ or AQ.
So to sum up. If you hit the flop along with 1 other player you will often win a big pot.
twizzybop
Legend
Silver Level
Seems that everyone is moaning about getting beat with AK these days. Is AK overrated or is it just a case of misguided expectations? How do you play AK? I look forward to your replies.
Yes it is over rated.. Nice hand to start with but if you raise with it and nothing hits on the flop(be prepared to fold).. Heads up it needs to pair up vs any pocket pairs.. A,K suited is a tad better then A,K off suit of course.. but A,K no matter suited or unsuited needs help.
Yes it is over rated.. Nice hand to start with but if you raise with it and nothing hits on the flop(be prepared to fold).. Heads up it needs to pair up vs any pocket pairs.. A,K suited is a tad better then A,K off suit of course.. but A,K no matter suited or unsuited needs help.
DESSERTLADY
Legend
Silver Level
twizzybop said:
I have to agree with Twizzy on this one. You will lose many a times more with it than win with it. I like to see it if I am short stacked or in late position. Early postion it's according where my stack is and who I am playing against.
Ima6T4
Rock Star
Silver Level
A K obviously wasn't a good enough starting hand last night in PS Freeroll , but it is a powerful starting hand. I'll raise it pre-flop when the opportunity is right almost everytime. Gotta be careful if you're backraised though, just try to get as good of a read on your opponent as possible if you're going to call it or push him back.
, but it is a powerful starting hand. I'll raise it pre-flop when the opportunity is right almost everytime. Gotta be careful if you're backraised though, just try to get as good of a read on your opponent as possible if you're going to call it or push him back.
B
beatrix
Rising Star
Silver Level
AK is a very nice hand to have but some people put far too much faith in it. The only hands that beat it are AA and KK, but the downside to these is that they're almost impossible to fold if you feel the other guy has you beat. AK is the kind of hand where you try and steal the blinds with or take the pot after the flop. But for the love of God don't think you'll win every hand with it.
titans4ever
Legend
Silver Level
It is the best drawing hand. It is still an underdog to a pair of ducks. You need to be prepared to do a continuation bet on the flop and go from there so you are actually in for about 6BB for just playing the best drawing hand possible. Suited at least gives you some more out for the nut flush draw but you only get that about 12% of the time.
Beriac
Visionary
Silver Level
AK is what you make of it...
As everyone has said, AK is a great hand to be dealt, but it needs help. So I wouldn't bet the farm on it in early position, as there are too many ways to lose with it. However, that said, it's a relatively more potent hand versus large groups of people, compared to a lower pocket pair.
I think as people are saying, it's something of a "skill" hand. With AA or KK or even QQ, you get it, say a brief thanks to the poker gods, and then bet as you need to to maximize your winnings. AK requires a little more finesse, table sense, and as another poster mentioned above, willingness to fold if you don't hit the flop.
As everyone has said, AK is a great hand to be dealt, but it needs help. So I wouldn't bet the farm on it in early position, as there are too many ways to lose with it. However, that said, it's a relatively more potent hand versus large groups of people, compared to a lower pocket pair.
I think as people are saying, it's something of a "skill" hand. With AA or KK or even QQ, you get it, say a brief thanks to the poker gods, and then bet as you need to to maximize your winnings. AK requires a little more finesse, table sense, and as another poster mentioned above, willingness to fold if you don't hit the flop.
gustavofuentes2
Visionary
Platinum Level
Its been my experience that whenever I have AK and try going in preflop someone always seem to have a pocket pair and they get there. So I will probably lay it as a 3 bet to see who might jump in. I will decide how to play after the flop but if someone goes all in after my 3 bet I can only assume that the y have a poket pair so I will most than likely fold unless they are the low stack. Good luck
dzsire
Legend
Platinum Level
It's a strong hand because if you have top pair on the flop, you have a very good companion card. However, if the hand only includes low cards, it can be completely worthless. What's certain is that you should attack with this hand.
dreamer13
Legend
Platinum Level
Most poker players subconsciously understand that AK is a strong hand.If right now your brain hastily began to recount all the times when you ran into monsters with your AKs, then you should know that in reality this happens very, very rarely.If you have AK, suited or unsuited, then whether we like it or not, we will be reducing the likelihood that our opponent has hands like AA, KK, and AK.
Unfortunately, AK will miss flops - OFTEN. Even though AK is a premium preflop hand, it will miss flops about 2 times out AK will, in most cases, still have a decent amount of equity even if your opponent misses and hits.
Unfortunately, AK will miss flops - OFTEN. Even though AK is a premium preflop hand, it will miss flops about 2 times out AK will, in most cases, still have a decent amount of equity even if your opponent misses and hits.
