Advice for playing AK Preflop?

jaybird · #1 05-12-2004, 02:24 AM

I'm trying to determine if my current strategy for playing AK Preflop is correct?

I only play NL25 and will usually raise $3. Here is where I am stuck. If I get reraised all-in should I call against someone I have no notes on?

On the flop, I'll usually bet $3-4 with one caller regardles of what flops. A get a lot of pots this way. Is this a bad strategy?

Last question. If an A or K lands on the flop, should I call an all-in raise? I've read that you shouldn't lose all your chips with TPTK, but could this play be +EV with the players at NL25 on Party?

Here are a few AK hands:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) converter

UTG+1 ($21.55)
UTG+2 ($48.87)
MP1 ($46.55)
MP2 ($34.30)
Hero ($55.15)
CO ($25)
Button ($35)
SB ($39.80)
BB ($37.45)
UTG ($22)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $0.50.
UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.50, MP1 raises to $1, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $3, CO (poster) folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $2.

Flop: ($7.75) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players) 
MP1 bets $5, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $12.75
Main Pot: $7.75, won by MP1.
Pot 2: $5, overbet by MP1.

Results in white below: 
No showdown. MP1 wins $12.75. 

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) converter

Button ($23.55)
SB ($51.12)
BB ($62.55)
UTG ($36.05)
Hero ($52.70)
UTG+2 ($12)
MP1 ($33.60)
MP2 ($16.95)
MP3 ($10.75)
CO ($24)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, UTG+2 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $3, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds.

Flop: ($6.75) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players) 
Hero bets $4, MP2 folds.

Final Pot: $10.75
Main Pot: $6.75, won by Hero.
Pot 2: $4, overbet by Hero.

Results in white below: 
No showdown. Hero wins $10.75. 

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) converter

Hero ($24.50)
BB ($43.05)
UTG ($21.75)
UTG+1 ($31.10)
UTG+2 ($22.75)
MP1 ($23.25)
MP2 ($18.45)
MP3 ($24.15)
CO ($26.95)
Button ($18.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $1, UTG+2 calls $1, MP1 folds, MP2 raises to $4, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, Hero calls $3.75, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $3.

Flop: ($13.50) J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players) 
Hero checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 bets $8, Hero folds, UTG+2 folds.

Final Pot: $21.50
Main Pot: $13.50, won by MP2.
Pot 2: $8, overbet by MP2.

Results in white below: 
No showdown. MP2 wins $21.50. 

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) converter

UTG ($25.40)
UTG+1 ($52.52)
UTG+2 ($53.80)
MP1 ($32.05)
Hero ($25)
MP3 ($117.86)
CO ($10.75)
Button ($56.64)
SB ($24.50)
BB ($36.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG raises to $1, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $1, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $3, MP3 folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls $2.50, UTG calls $2, UTG+2 calls $2.

Flop: ($12.25) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (4 players) 
BB bets $3, UTG calls $3, UTG+2 folds, Hero raises to $11, BB folds, UTG calls $8.

Turn: ($37.25) Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players) 
UTG checks, Hero bets $11 (All-In), UTG calls $11.

River: ($59.25) 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in) 

Final Pot: $59.25
Main Pot: $59.25, between UTG and Hero. > Pot won by Hero ($59.25).

Results in white below: 
UTG shows Kd Jd (one pair, kings).
Hero shows Kh Ad (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $59.25.

CrisBrown · #2 05-12-2004, 02:45 AM

Hi jaybird,

All of these plays look fine to me. AK plays best heads-up, and it looks like you're generally able to get that. What's more, it looks like you're able to get away from AK after a pre-flop raise when the flop misses you and looks to have obviously hit an opponent. This is solid AK play, in my opinion.

Cris

sniperd · #3 05-12-2004, 11:45 AM

Looks good to me. Your not supposed to back TPBK with your stack in games with real deep stacks, but on Party, the max buy in is so low, and there are SO MANY goons that I feel it's pos EV. Great plays. And on the 6 person tables, it sometimes feels like you need to back your 1 pair no kicker with your stack with all the maniacs!

Richie Rich · #4 05-12-2004, 05:49 PM

I think you're playing AK pretty well. But would you like to add a tricky element to your game?

(1) Don't always make the standard $3 raise when you get AK; even if you do so with all Group 1 Hands (AA/KK/QQ), you're basically advertising to the table what you've got.

(2) Try a check-raise once in a while, especially if you get AK in the blinds or EP.

Also, be sure to take position into account. If you're playing AK from early/middle position the same way that you'd play it from late position, then you should think about how/why that's not good for your game. I'll let you think about it...