too weak with AK?

marken · #1 04-07-2005, 08:01 PM

BB is TP-A, UTG is sLP-A.

I'm new to no-limit, so i need feedback on this common hand.

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

UTG+2 ($50)
MP1 ($73.52)
MP2 ($59.25)
MP3 ($49.5)
CO ($46.2)
Button ($115.2)
Hero ($38.2)
BB ($73.55)
UTG ($25.33)
UTG+1 ($35.75)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG+2 posts a blind of $0.5. Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, UTG+2 (poster) checks, 5 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $2.75, BB calls $2.50, UTG calls $2.50, UTG+2 folds.

 Should i check stead and try to trap if a A hits? 

Flop: ($9.50) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets $6, BB folds, UTG calls $6.

 Is this bet to small or should i check instead?

Turn: ($21.50) Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $8, Hero folds.

 This is my main concern. Should i bet here again? doesn't my play here screams AK or AJ? 

Final Pot: $29.50

Richie Rich · #2 04-07-2005, 08:07 PM

There are two ways to play AK: (1) aggressively, or (2) more passively. Whether you choose #1, #2, or like to mix-it-up depends upon how many opponents are in the hand and your image at the table. How do you think you played it in this hand? I'd say somewhere in-between.

Next time you're playing AK in position against 1 or 2 opponents, "act as if"...

zaxx19 · #3 04-07-2005, 08:10 PM

In between which is the worst way.

marken · #4 04-07-2005, 08:11 PM

As if what?

You think i should have made a bigger bet on the flop and flowed up by a big bet on the turn too? Or instead checked the turn?

Richie Rich · #5 04-07-2005, 08:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
In between which is the worst way.

[/ QUOTE ]
Correct.

marken · #6 04-07-2005, 08:15 PM

Is it the flop bet which is to small or the fact that i don't bet the turn which makes it a middle way?

If would like to play it agressivly.

Richie Rich · #7 04-07-2005, 08:16 PM

[ QUOTE ]
As if what?

[/ QUOTE ]
You have a better hand than AK [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
You think i should have made a bigger bet on the flop

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes

[ QUOTE ]
Or instead checked the turn?

[/ QUOTE ]
If you raised enough btf (which you didn't in this hand), and bet the pot on the flop, then it's time to slow down if a blank falls on the turn. That's because you've advertised that you have a strong hand, and your opponent is still giving you action.

In short: bet more btf, bet more on the flop, slow up on the turn if unimproved (because one pair hands usually win smaller pots, and lose bigger ones).

marken · #8 04-07-2005, 08:22 PM

thanks for clearing it out. I see now that i really need to work on my game.

Richie Rich · #9 04-07-2005, 08:32 PM

One last piece of friendly advice...when playing SSNL tables, try to get into the habit of raising AK/AQ the same as you do with other premium hands like AA/KK/QQ. I'll let you think about why.