I am considering just to limp with AK early for now on early

[Vetstadium]

Maybe I have to rethink my way of playing it I usually come in for raise of about 5X BB and it seems at Party nobody folds to raises this early. Just seems like in over 1000 SNG's wasting chips early with this hand. If A or K doesn't hit easy fold but so many idiots on there you hit top Pair ragged board they raise you all in. Hate to just call with a starting hand like AK I do play tight early so don't bleed lots of chips early but looking for a way for when I reach bubble have more chips.

[CardMinger]

I definately agree with your post and have had problems at well at party...at lower level playes will still easily call a 5xBB raise with a broad range of hands like KJ, QJ, AT etc. The way I have been playing lately is to make a 2.5 or 3xBB raise with AK in hopes to at least keep the SB/BB from playing a 52o and catching straits & 2 pair. There are also players that respect early position raises enough to lay down fishy hands like QJ.

Again I play low limits on Party ($20+2's or $30+3's) so this information might not apply to other sites / limits.

[m bozeman]

I limp with AK frequently in early stages of tournaments, and will release the hand if the board misses me, or I get alot of action. If I limp and am raised, I will sometimes just call, or sometimes reraise, depending on the situation. I put much more value on the hand in the later stages of a tournament than early on. Early on, you may win a small pot, or lose a big one.

[betgo]

I don't agree with this at all. Raise with AK. If 3 people call you, fine. You get the money in with the best hand. If you need to fold this frequently, so what. Who is in better shape, you with AK or your callers with ATo, KJo, or 97s?

If there are limpers to me, I will raise. If it is raised to me, I will generally reraise.

The only time I would limp from early position with AK is when I was planning to limp reraise allin, but I wouldn't try that with deep money early on.

[morgan180]

I agree with betgo. AK is a 65% favorite over any two random hands. Plus your odds of winning improves with a raise as you'll push out trash hands that occassionally catch a miracle flop. You may not knock out weak kings or weak aces who occaisionally catch two pair, but that is the entire point, to get your money in when you have the best of it. Clearly AK is a premium hand and if you don't get your money in with it you are passing up EV.

Make a raise to 3x BB and if you miss the flop, depending on your read and position fold or bet. You pass up way too much expectation by not raising here.

Just my opinion.

[kalooki45]

I hate AK....
RIght now I raise it maybe 2 1/2x..big enough to scare trash, normal enough to keep in weaker As & Ks, which I figure to beat.
If you get it very early, people often think you're on a steal, (WHY they think you're dying to risk the trny to get 30 chips is beyond me...) and will call with junk quite often.
I prefer to see the flop before I put much money in--AK lets you down a lot--but it's worth a reasonable raise.

[Scuba Chuck]

Vet, this is a terrible long term strategy. This means that you would also need to limp in with AA, KK and QQ IMO. Otherwise you're giving away signs.

Perhaps your approach is incorrect. Psychologically, you might be thinking you're going to win this hand post flop. That can't be further from the truth. Your ability to fold this hand after a medium/large PF raise is a credit to your ability as a poker player. You should praise yourself on that. Remember poker is about maximizing your winnings on your good hands, and minimizing your losses on your bad hands. Why would you not want to build a pot with such a dominant PF position?

I used to struggle with what is the right amount to open bet PF. I have come to the conclusion that I want to bet enough so that any garbage the big blind might have is folded. You want to set the stage so that any callers can be put on hands like AQ, 2 broadway cards, or a pair. This is how you maximize your winnings if you flop well. It also will allow you to call any minimum raises (if u play that way) if the flop is all rags. If that means I win a few measley blinds and calls, then so be it. It was meant to be. I won't be drawn out by 86o. I don't want to give up ANY chips with a premium PF hand.

In round 1 and 2 I generally open bet 75-100 (PP). I never reraise, unless raise is below this amount. Depending on the size of a reraise I may call or fold - I can't believe how many $33ers raise to $250 with 99. In fact, if I have AA, KK, QQ I also open bet 75-100. I don't want to give away any hands.

Those are my Scuba cents...

[Scuba Chuck]

BTW, when you're studying your HHs, do you notice you are having the most problems in round 1?

I continue to see advice that you should bet 3xBB when you have AK. 3xBB in round 1 will not push off too much garbage or fish for that matter.

some more Scuba cents...

[Benholio]

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, when you're studying your HHs, do you notice you are having the most problems in round 1?

I continue to see advice that you should bet 3xBB when you have AK. 3xBB in round 1 will not push off too much garbage or fish for that matter.

some more Scuba cents...

[/ QUOTE ]

Many people use a standard raise higher than 3xBB in round 1 (or round 2 for that matter). If someone with Ax will call your 3xBB raise in level 1, they will probably call your 5xBB raise too. Personally, I open-raise to 60-65 in level 1 @ party (and more if there are limpers).

[morgan180]

[ QUOTE ]
I open-raise to 60-65 in level 1 @ party (and more if there are limpers)

[/ QUOTE ]

i like this raise, either way, you've got to raise with AK as the first raiser.