Fold AK UTG?

[kurtcobain]

I dont have pokertracker, but I'm guessing AK (off, but maybe even suited) isn't a big winner UTG. I've been experimenting with ways to play it, so as to avoid "winning small pots and losing big ones"

What about min raising? It'll build a decent sized pot with 3 or 4 callers, which you can usually take down when an A or K flops, and sometimes get paid off w/ middle pair because nobody really puts an UTG min-raiser on AK.

AK is like the popular girl who thinks she's hot stuff but isn't good looking.

[Lunamondo]

One needs to experiment with different ways in different games and see how things go. The game and its type has a lot to say what is right here. At least at low limit games when people minimum raise (2x the BB in this case, but one needs to also consider 2.5 and up to 3 when one is "minimum" raising, when opening) they too are feeling weak-strong like you, just that they might have AJ, KQ, ATs, AT or some pocket pair. The dominated factor is the main factor one needs to consider, the other is what one rates to get with a limp or a minimum raise, and considering the size of the field one gets when raising less.

[ike]

If you're not comfortable playing AK you may want to consider folding every single hand. Just sit there posting blinds, its your best shot.
In all seriousness, if you're losing with AK its not AK's fault. You're probably folding far too much or far too little postflop with it.

[Chris Daddy Cool]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're not comfortable playing AK you may want to consider folding every single hand. Just sit there posting blinds, its your best shot.


[/ QUOTE ]

You mean wait for AA or KK right? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[ThePopinjay]

if you're playing at PartyPoker don't play KK in seat 3, 7, or agaainst the guy in the green beret. you'll be up against AA everytime.

[TheCat]

Been thinking a bit about AK. It does not do well in multiway pot so you need to raise with it knock out drawing hands like JTs. However it’s a dog against any pair. So you make a big raise, 33 goes all in, you call, you are now 45% to win. Still someone does need to have a pair to give you trouble in the first place. So a big raise is correct I’m sure. If you get to the flop with one or two callers you are in good shape. If you hit great, if not you can get away from it cheaply, well mostly you can.

[Jon Matthews]

Min raising is c rap, raise by 2xBB UTG if you want but min raises entice people to try and break you.

Raising is meant to be a field limiting action. You want to play your high cards against a hand which it dominates, and the most likely way to be in this situation is in a raised pot. Min raising does not accomplish this. Limp instead and get out cheaper if you miss.

Jon

[ClimbRock512]

You are killing us. If you are folding AK preflop in an unraised pot then maybe you should consider a different card game. Raise that biatch, thin out the field, fill your opponents with fear because you are raising from UTG! you must have a good hand. Bet that baby on the flop if it is heads up or maybe against two others(depending on the opponents) and see where it goes from there. If you have more than two opponents, I don't think you raised enough, or you are probably up against some big hands, and you can easily fold.

Raising UTG you'll hit 1 in 3 times and you'll steal the pot AT LEAST 1 in the other 2, probably more. Gotta play that baby.

[Boylermaker]

Raise the same as you would any other big hand.

[turnipmonster]

there's a great section in super system on it. the basic idea is you are probably going to make a pair, so you don't want to play a huge pot. if you don't make a pair on the flop, you are not going to be calling bets by people who probably have a pair. this is because your outs may be unclean, and you are going to pay a lot to find that out.

it seems like in limit games people play AK very hard. it's usually not correct to be betting and raising with nut no pair past the flop.

--turnipmonster