Pairs or AK

[CORed]

If we're assuming that it's folded to me on the button, I'd take the pairs down to about 55 rather than the offsuit AK, and down to 77 rather than the AKs. It there are limpers (or especially a raise) ahead, the pairs would have to be much higher.

[Isura]

Short-handed I'd say 88 or 77. WIth many limpers I'd say 66.

[MercTec]

This is before the cards are dealt so you don't know the action.

[Evan]

TT and 99 for me.

[sthief09]

it really depends on the situation. for shits and giggles I'll say JJ > AKo, QQ > AKs. but again, it really depends on the situation.

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
it really depends on the situation. for shits and giggles I'll say JJ > AKo, QQ > AKs. but again, it really depends on the situation.

[/ QUOTE ]

I went with the same.

*This post is mainly to tell you that your avatar blows.*

[sthief09]

you're about the 10th person to tell me that. Tosh ownes my avatar for the next month. everyone complain to him so he changes it

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
you're about the 10th person to tell me that. Tosh ownes my avatar for the next month. everyone complain to him so he changes it

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently Tosh let someone else choose it, so you'll have to convince that person to get it changed [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img].

[pzhon]

That there was such a wide variety of responses indicates that either

[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] There are no right or wrong answers in poker. It's all about style and playing your opponents.

or

[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] There are a few frighteningly clueless people reading these forums.

Here is how much AKs, AKo, and the pocket pairs make on the button, 10-handed, according to PokerRoom:

$1-$2

1.01 AKs
0.59 AKo

2.94 AA
2.09 KK
1.33 QQ
1.05 JJ
0.45 TT
0.22 99
0.17 88
0.15 77
0.09 66
0.11 55
-.06 44
0.05 33
-.13 22

$10-$20

0.99 AKs
0.89 AKo

3.23 AA
2.35 KK
1.74 QQ
1.19 JJ
0.97 TT
0.24 99
0.41 88
0.05 77
0.40 66
0.33 55
-.21 44
0.17 33
0.13 22

These suggest that the reasonable responses are QQ, JJ, and TT.

I've stated several reasons why the PokerRoom EV stats are flawed, and I think there isn't enough data at the $10-$20 level for the figures to be accurate. If your Poker Tracker stats are wildly different, please let us know. If you have some way of playing 88 to make it anywhere close to as profitable as AK, please post that, too.