ok, how do you play AK.. here's how NOT to play it.

[MrBrightside]

I complemely torched this hand. Down to 50 or so in $25 NL tourney. Pays 30. Only guy at the table who has me covered. He's a solid player, but has been very agressive and likes to see a fair amount of flops. For instance, it would never have occurred to me to make the preflop call he did here.


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (10 handed) converter

SB (t2715)
BB (t4526)
UTG (t2587)
UTG+1 (t3006)
UTG+2 (t2525)
MP1 (t165)
Hero (t5418)
MP3 (t7400)
CO (t2035)
Button (t1895)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls t150, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+2 calls t150, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t800</font>, MP3 calls t800, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, UTG folds, UTG+2 folds.

Flop: (t2125) J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets t1200</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t2700</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t4800</font>, Hero calls t1918 (All-In).

Turn: (t11543) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

River: (t11543) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 1 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: t11543

In retrospect, checking the flop is horrible. I could have figured out where I was much cheaper than trying a check raise (he was fairly committed at that point).

What I was really torn on was the call of 1900. Here's the Deal: I was pretty sure I was beat. I thought there was a possibility of a flush draw and nothing else (say with AQs), but AJ was a very real hand for this guy. If it was the beginning of the level, I would have kept my 1900 and tried to build, but this was the LAST hand before we went to 100/200 and that made my decision to go ahead and call. (the difference between 12.5 BB and 9.5BB).

Later, I really kicked myself for the mess here, but especially the call. I should have taken my lumps.

what do you think?

Oh, previewing makes me see the converter didn't put the results. He had AJ and I was out.