AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

PF only - obviously...this is Party 25NL

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (10 handed) converter

UTG+2 ($27)
MP1 ($43)
MP2 ($14.65)
MP3 ($26.15)
CO ($12)
Button ($28.46)
SB ($43.85)
Hero ($25)
UTG ($16)
UTG+1 ($48.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $0.5. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, UTG+1 calls $0.50, UTG+2 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, MP3 calls $0.50, CO (poster) checks, Button folds, SB (poster) completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($3.50) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(7 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">SB bets $3</font>, Hero folds, <font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to $6</font>, UTG+1 calls $6, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, CO folds, SB folds.

Turn: ($18.50) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG+1 calls $9.50.

River: ($28) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

Final Pot: $28

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

Nooo. Raise pre-flop. Drive out opponents. You want to narrow the field!

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

Must...

raise....

preflop!!!

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

Ok, perhaps I should explain.

Good things about this hand:
I have AKs

Bad things about this hand:
I have sh*t position.
I will hit the flop only 1/3 of the time.
I have 5 limpers so I have to raise a decent amount. Given the previous point, I'm not happy about this.
I have 5 limpers and if I raise probably 3-4 will come along at this level, meaning I can't take the pot down with a semi-bluff on the flop in most cases. Even if I could, I've already built a big pot so any semi-bluff commits a large chunk of my stack.

Still want to raise this? And if so, why?

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

Hmm...I'm not sure what I'd raise here. I think I would make it 4, however 3 would allow weaker aces into the pot. I'm not sure. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I'd like to see what some of the other posters think.

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

I dont think position really matters here.
While position does matter, with A-Ks with a few limpers, you have to put in a raise. If you miss or are faced with a big bet on the flop, let the hand go and move on.

Very rarely do I not raise with AKs in the blinds. These rare times are when someone from early position raises and there are 3 or more callers. If I reraise Im likely to get called by at least 1 person... and at least 1 with probably have me beat.

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, perhaps I should explain.

Good things about this hand:
I have AKs

Bad things about this hand:
I have sh*t position.
I will hit the flop only 1/3 of the time.
I have 5 limpers so I have to raise a decent amount. Given the previous point, I'm not happy about this.
I have 5 limpers and if I raise probably 3-4 will come along at this level, meaning I can't take the pot down with a semi-bluff on the flop in most cases. Even if I could, I've already built a big pot so any semi-bluff commits a large chunk of my stack.

Still want to raise this? And if so, why?

[/ QUOTE ]

How I learned that it may not be the best idea to blast away here. (I think you played this well.)

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.25 BB (8 handed) converter

Button ($11.95)
SB ($66.10)
Hero ($24.25)
UTG ($21.45)
UTG+1 ($7.40)
MP1 ($10.90)
MP2 ($24.35)
CO ($11.85)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, CO calls $0.25, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB completes, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $2.25</font>, UTG calls $2, UTG+1 calls $2, MP1 calls $2, CO calls $2, SB calls $2.

Flop: ($13.50) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(6 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 bets $8.65 (All-In)</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets $8.65 (All-In)</font>, SB calls $8.65, Hero folds, UTG folds, UTG+1 folds.

Turn: ($39.45) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players, 2 all-in)</font>

River: ($39.45) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players, 2 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: $39.45

Results in white below: <font color="#FFFFFF">
SB has Jd Qs (high card, queen).
MP1 has Js Th (one pair, tens).
CO has Tc Td (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: CO wins $39.45. </font>

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

Nothing wrong with check from the big blind with AKo. You know you're closing the action and not comitting too many chips with a DRAWING HAND. If you hit at these levels you can still get paid off by KQ, AQ, AJ and KJ and if you miss who cares, you saw the flop for free anyways. That's the line I've been taking lately from SB, BB, UTG, UTG+1, MP1, MP2 and even MP3 and it's been workign out quite well. You just have to be able to get away from the hand. As an example, I called yesterday from MP2 with AK and flopped K55. MP1 bet pot, I raised, he reraised, and I laid down. He showed his K5 and I patted myself on the back. In the long run though I think that you will save money playing AK weakly preflop from the first half of the table.

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

I know that there are some other posters who've said that checking pre-flop is good, I think that it's definitely right to raise pre-flop. Granted, you'll only hit the flop 1/3 of the time, but against other non-pair hands, you'll still be good 2/3 of the times (since they'll only hit 1/3 of the time too). I raise pre-flop, narrow the field and fire at any flop, regardless of whether or not an A or K hits.

Then again, I'm probably a huge fishy LAG.

Re: AKs in the BB - Standard?
 

I think you're missing the point that raising out of the BB stands a good chance of NOT narrowing the field. If you raise huge to guarantee that you limit the field then you are committing a lot of chips, out of position, likely to end up with A high and then what are you going to do? Push any flop? Doesn't seem like the optimal way to play AK.