A discussion of implied odds of flopping one pair with AK

scdavis0 · #1 11-06-2005, 08:19 PM

Convential wisdom states, calling a 3 bet pre flop with AK is bad. Typically your opponent will have AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AK. You could flop a pair and still be in big trouble. If you flop a pair and it gives you the best hand, you will get very little action.

Those that espouse this wisdom clearly do not play in my games. Against the right opponents with position, the implied odds are better than you might ever imagine. Additionally, if they play really bad, you can probably get away with losing the minimum when they have AA and a king flops. If you are routinely folding in these situations against bad players, you may have no idea how much money you are leaving on the table.

Case in point, a hand played last night:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Button ($398)
SB ($268.60)
BB ($1000)
UTG ($1048.60)
MP ($404.30)
Hero ($415.45)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $2.
2 folds, Hero raises to $15, 2 folds, BB raises to $46, Hero calls $35.

Flop: ($102) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero raises to $95, BB calls $91.

Turn: ($292) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero raises to $120, BB calls $116.

River: ($532) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero calls $150.45 (All-In), BB calls $146.45.

Final Pot: $832.90

Results in white below: 
BB has Qd Qh (two pair, aces and queens).
Hero has Ah Kh (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $832.90.