How do you play AK early in first 2 levels?

golfcchs · #1 09-20-2005, 10:02 PM

PartyI'm really having trouble with AK early in the first two levels. I feel that raising is not effective, especially in the first level, because a raise to 50 often results in playing a multi way pot out of position. I have started to limp AK early to play the hand cheaply, but don't know what to do when someone raises after may limp. If I call I will be out of position of the flop and can easily be bluffed by a weaker ace. Interested to know how you play AK early in first two levels. Also would really appreciate comments on these two AK hands below.

Both hand are 20+2 buy in.

Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) converter

Button (t740)
SB (t775)
BB (t760)
Hero (t775)
UTG+1 (t800)
MP1 (t655)
MP2 (t295)
MP3 (t775)
CO (t2425)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
Hero calls t30, 1 fold, MP1 raises to t125, MP2 raises to 295 all in 5 folds, MP1 calls t170.

Do I throw AK away here, or push?

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) converter

Hero (t995)
BB (t680)
UTG (t1475)
UTG+1 (t975)
MP1 (t655)
MP2 (t425)
MP3 (t765)
CO (t1070)
Button (t960)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
4 folds, MP3 calls t30, CO calls t30, Button raises to t100, Hero calls t85, 1 fold, MP3 folds, CO folds.

Flop: (t290) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: (t290) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets t100, Button raises to t200, Hero calls t100.

River: (t690) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t200, Hero calls t200.

Final Pot: t1090

This hand I had no idea what to do and really just called the river to see what he had. Feel free to reply if you would play any part of this hand differently.

lastchance · #2 09-20-2005, 10:07 PM

1) I raise UTG, just got to know when to let it go, but once you're here, I think I'd fold, though pushing is not that bad against 2 donks.

2) Your line is really risky in a $20+2. I bet-fold turn there. I just can't put him on a bluff enough of the time.

lastchance · #3 09-20-2005, 10:08 PM

1) I like raising UTG, if you can let it go and such. I think folding is right, though if you think both of those guys are donks, I could push over the top.

2) I like betting the turn, I hate calling the minraise. Without a read Villain bluffs, I don't like calling ace high that loses to middle pairs here.

golfcchs · #4 09-20-2005, 10:11 PM

On hand 2 do you ever reraise preflop? Villain could be raiseing alot of hands I am ahead of here.

Olback · #5 09-20-2005, 10:15 PM

Hand 1: I would raise preflop. Given how you played it, i would fold as i do not think i need to gamble this early.

Hand 2: You either have to bet the flop or check/fold the turn i do not see how u can call his miniraise and then bet again on the river with nothing. What do you put him on?

golfcchs · #6 09-20-2005, 10:18 PM

I did not really think I had him beat just frustrated and really wanted to see what he had. It happened to be AQ.

lastchance · #7 09-20-2005, 10:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I did not really think I had him beat just frustrated and really wanted to see what he had. It happened to be AQ.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's going to cost you quite a bit of money. I like the turn bet, BTW, but you've got to fold those spots.

As for reraising preflop, I will do that quite a bit, but not here, with two limpers and the raise in front of me.

suited_ace · #8 09-20-2005, 10:38 PM

1. Your problem was not raising in the first place. What are you trying to achieve with a limp? This is -EV at a $22. You're playing against a bunch of donks, ABC poker is what you need.

2. Against just one opponent I throw a continuation bet 100% of the time in that spot. If you wanna check the flop, then there's no way you're calling his raise.

caretaker1 · #9 09-20-2005, 11:15 PM

Hand 1: It's still early, a fold probably is fine there.
Hand 2:
Problem 1: You have ace high.
Problem 2: pre-flop raiser does not bet behind on a ragged board that you were not likely to have hit (translation: the flop hit him, possibly hard)
Problem 3: A min-raise on the turn means he wants to keep you around (again a sign that he has a hand)
Problem 4: Such a small bet on the river indicates the same thing, he has a hand.
Result: At every step of the way villian is telling you he has got a hand, so: I would not bet this on the turn. Had I bet, I don't call the min-raise with ace high, and I don't call the 200 on the river.
Reality: Having said all this, villian probably had A-J and its all wrong.

$.02

golfcchs · #10 09-20-2005, 11:45 PM

Could you elaborate further why limping AK early in fist 2 levels is -ev? I really don't like raiseing level 1 because I usually get multiple callers and then can easily loose money on a out of position continue bet.