AK in BB at Level 1 . . .

[EasilyFound]

$11 two-table tourney. This is a common situation and I'd like to know what people do in this spot. In the BB w/AK against several limpers. Do you usually raise here or just call and hope to hit the flop? If you raise, how much? I know this is not a SNG, but my question also applies to SNGs, so that is why I ask here.

#Game No : 2268801905
***** Hand History for Game 2268801905 *****
NL Hold'em Trny:13437279 Level:2 Blinds (10/20) - Sunday, June 26, 21:46:14 EDT 2005
Table(377466) Table #2 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: Anvil2000 ( $2105 )
Seat 2: clarky23 ( $960 )
Seat 3: JonnyMo1221 ( $950 )
Seat 4: mandangalo1 ( $1515 )
Seat 5: EasilyFound ( $975 )
Seat 6: walkdwalk ( $910 )
Seat 7: pipefitter15 ( $700 )
Seat 9: Kubot2000 ( $940 )
Seat 10: prtynewkirk ( $945 )
Trny:13437279 Level:2
Blinds (10/20)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to EasilyFound [ Ks Ad ]
walkdwalk folds.
pipefitter15 calls [20].
Kubot2000 folds.
prtynewkirk folds.
Anvil2000 folds.
clarky23 calls [20].
JonnyMo1221 calls [20].
mandangalo1 calls [10].
EasilyFound ????

[Sabrazack]

Im probably raising to 60 here to get some value for the nice hand i have. If you miss the flop you can get away from it and if you hit it you won't be as worried that your beat since a few limpers will probably drop preflop.

[EricW]

I raise to 80. AK is an easy hand to let go if you don't hit. You would be insane to just call and let 4 others see the flop.

[EasilyFound]

[ QUOTE ]
I raise to 80. AK is an easy hand to let go if you don't hit. You would be insane to just call and let 4 others see the flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

In your experience, does a raise of that size significantly clear the field?

[EricW]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I raise to 80. AK is an easy hand to let go if you don't hit. You would be insane to just call and let 4 others see the flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

In your experience, does a raise of that size significantly clear the field?

[/ QUOTE ]

That depends on the game to be honest. You're talking about an 10+1 game here right? Chances are, it won't clear the field. Since it's so early on, a good portion of the time if you only raise 60, you'll still have all the bozos call your bet. With 80, most of the time it's 1-2 callers which is exactly what I want. You also gotta factor in that you're going to have the worst position in the subsequent rounds so that's why I also don't like having too many bettors in.

In the end, a raise of 60-80 sounds good to me.

[Winwood]

[ QUOTE ]


..if you only raise 60, you'll still have all the bozos call your bet

[/ QUOTE ]

If you only raise 60 the bozos would probably be correct to call your bet.

In an 11 (unless the 2-table tournaments are significantly differnt to the STTs) I make it 150 to go expecting 1 caller, which is exactly what I want.

[45suited]

The last thing that I would do is put in a nuisance raise to 60, so that they can all call and I'm stuck playing my AK out of position against multiple opponents. The raise to 60 correctly prices in alot of hands and what you've done is build the size of the pot against multiple opponents out of position. Not what I would want.

Either put in a real raise (130-150) or just check and see the flop. I actually don't hate checking here.

[adanthar]

[ QUOTE ]
In an 11 (unless the 2-table tournaments are significantly differnt to the STTs) I make it 150 to go expecting 1 caller, which is exactly what I want.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is very, very wrong. Out of position with AK, you almost never want one caller. What you do want is either to steal the blinds or get multiple callers (2 is ideal but 4 is OK, too.)

I'm not going to spell out why, but it has to do with reverse implied odds.

[45suited]

[ QUOTE ]
This is very, very wrong. Out of position with AK, you almost never want one caller. What you do want is either to steal the blinds or get multiple callers (2 is ideal but 4 is OK, too.)

I'm not going to spell out why, but it has to do with reverse implied odds.

[/ QUOTE ]

Adanthar, on level 1 or 2, I like to play AKo either pretty softly or very aggressively, maybe because I understand my limitations...

I know what you're saying but don't you think that what you're talking about would require a level of skill beyond what the typical $11 player possesses (post flop)? By that I mean playing the hand 4 way, out of position with enough skill to get away from a favorable looking flop if necessary? Am I making sense or just sounding like a bad player? /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[adanthar]

That may swing it to wanting zero callers more than two, but you never want just one.

[J-Lo]

[ QUOTE ]
That may swing it to wanting zero callers more than two, but you never want just one.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does this have something to do with stack size? Because i prefer one call when i have position so i can use my continuation bet to pick up the nicely built pot...

However, playing AK from the blinds, i let my weak tight tendencies dictate my play and i check at the $55's.