Early levels-limp with AQ but raise with AK... why?

stanzee · #1 06-03-2005, 07:56 PM

This is a question aimed mainly at the people who advise to limp AQ but will raise AK preflop in the early levels. I can see why limping AQ can keep you out of trouble on the flop and preflop in the early levels, some people even advocate folding it in some circumstances. What makes AK so much better that it should be raised preflop as it seems to me that it is a hand that can get you into almost as much trouble? Just interested in your thoughts.

tigerite · #2 06-03-2005, 07:59 PM

You can't be out-kicked.

stanzee · #3 06-03-2005, 08:19 PM

yes, but AQ can only be outkicked by one hand, and how many times is your AQ going to come up against AK?

introv · #4 06-03-2005, 08:20 PM

A lot of people will flat call raises with AK. Not only that but AK can only ever make tptk (at worst - when it hits). Early in an SNG and from EP, raising with AQ can be trouble, aye!

stanzee · #5 06-03-2005, 08:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
A lot of people will flat call raises with AK. Not only that but AK can only ever make tptk (at worst - when it hits). Early in an SNG and from EP, raising with AQ can be trouble, aye!

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't asking about flat calling with AK... i think that is fine. My question was why open raise with AK, or maybe i should rephrase- "why not limp with AK like you would with AQ?". Is limping with AK that bad in levels 1&2? And if so, surely limping AQ is bad as well. I personally am not comfortable calling a re-raise with AK after i have already open raised with it preflop in levels 1 or 2.