How to play AK against shortstacks
 

This is a fairly common scenario; say you're playing 5/10 and you open-raise with AKo preflop to 4 times the BB, and a shortstack in the blinds with around $300 re-raises to $120. Given no reads, is it a clear fold, since it's unlikely you're a fave? I don't really see a call here, I would rather push than call. So fold or push? Maybe I should have done a poll, oh well.

Re: How to play AK against shortstacks
 

I see short stack making that raise with 88,99,1010,JJ,QQ, (possible, but doubtfully AQ). I push.

Re: How to play AK against shortstacks
 

depends if it's 6max or full ring, however I close my eyes and stick it in every time for 6max, full ring I try to get a better read on the situation (what's my current image, where did I open AK from...if I opened from button or opened from utg, you can see how it's much different).

Re: How to play AK against shortstacks
 

If you're up against a medium pair, it doesn't make much difference which way you go. You can keep your $260, or expect to win 45% of $600, which is $270. So the all-in move makes you $10.

It seems your fold equity here is pretty low. So the real question is, how often do you dominate compared to how often you are dominated by KK or crushed by AA?

I made a chart here, but it's not all that useful since I basically pulled the likelyhood of the hands out of my butt. My butt says call. Please adjust using your own butt.
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
Hand Likely? Win% win$ net EV weightedEV
sm.Pair 80% 45% 270 10 8.00
AA 3% 7% 44.4 -215.6 -6.46
Ax 8% 70% 420 160 12.80
KK 3% 30% 180 -80 -2.40
AK 5% 50% 300 40 2.00
bs 1% 60% 360 100 1.00
100% $14.93
</pre><hr />
captZEEbo makes a good point regarding your position. If it looks to your opponent like you might be stealing, your chances are a lot better.

Re: How to play AK against shortstacks
 

[ QUOTE ]
If it looks to your opponent like you might be stealing, your chances are a lot better.

[/ QUOTE ]
I push only if I think this is likely 50% greater of the time. I don't like flipping with shorties. It's pointless.

Re: How to play AK against shortstacks
 

you are almost certainly a coin flip almost all the time, and he's raising a worse ace more often than he's raising AA and KK...that makes this a push to me.