Folding AK off suit UTG is just nitty!
Not only is AK a strong drawing hand, you are blocking AA & KK combinations. If you miss the flop, just C-bet if you are heads up against someone that folds to flop C-bets a lot
If they call, fire a 2nd barrel if they fold a lot on the turn. Playing fit or fold isn't going to be too helpful with AK because you're not going to hit the flop as often. (Also like someone said, when a A or K hits on the flop... your hand is basically face up when you bet big.)
Not only is AK a strong drawing hand, you are blocking AA & KK combinations. If you miss the flop, just C-bet if you are heads up against someone that folds to flop C-bets a lot
If they call, fire a 2nd barrel if they fold a lot on the turn. Playing fit or fold isn't going to be too helpful with AK because you're not going to hit the flop as often. (Also like someone said, when a A or K hits on the flop... your hand is basically face up when you bet big.)
Is this even a thread? ABSOLUTELY open AK, suited or not UTG.
Here's why.
There are 3 hand combos that have you massively beat. AA have 90% equity against you.
There are 3 hand combos that are significantly ahead. KK has 66% equity against you.
There are 66 combos, assuming players will call with 22+ that have slight equity against you. 55%.
There are 75 combos where you are a significant favorite, approximately if you consider people will call with A5-9suited in position, plus AQ, AJ, AT, KQ, KJ, KTsuited. 70% in your favorite. Plus there's another 20 combos of QJ, and QTs that lose to you 60% in your favor. Throw in maybe another 16 combos of lower suited connectors. That's over 100 hand combinations that are losing to AK at least 2/3rds of the time.
So, with 172 hand combos of what people will reasonably call with
100 lose 2/3rds of the time or more.
66 lose a little pinch less than half the time.
3 have you beat 2/3rds of the time.
And a whopping 3 combos win 90%.
In other words:
AK will be the best hand by the river apprx. 2/3rds of the time against an average opponents calling range.
Here's why.
There are 3 hand combos that have you massively beat. AA have 90% equity against you.
There are 3 hand combos that are significantly ahead. KK has 66% equity against you.
There are 66 combos, assuming players will call with 22+ that have slight equity against you. 55%.
There are 75 combos where you are a significant favorite, approximately if you consider people will call with A5-9suited in position, plus AQ, AJ, AT, KQ, KJ, KTsuited. 70% in your favorite. Plus there's another 20 combos of QJ, and QTs that lose to you 60% in your favor. Throw in maybe another 16 combos of lower suited connectors. That's over 100 hand combinations that are losing to AK at least 2/3rds of the time.
So, with 172 hand combos of what people will reasonably call with
100 lose 2/3rds of the time or more.
66 lose a little pinch less than half the time.
3 have you beat 2/3rds of the time.
And a whopping 3 combos win 90%.
In other words:
AK will be the best hand by the river apprx. 2/3rds of the time against an average opponents calling range.
AK early position
We all love AK don't? Well I know I do, thats why I usually raise when I get it but I don't know how to play it when I raise in early position and someone re-raises me. If I just call all the info I get is that the villain is holding any pocket pair, any broadway (I play micros) and any Ax, re-raising on the other hand probably eliminates some broadways and small aces is it worth risking a re-raise for that or maybe I should just fold?
We all love AK don't? Well I know I do, thats why I usually raise when I get it but I don't know how to play it when I raise in early position and someone re-raises me. If I just call all the info I get is that the villain is holding any pocket pair, any broadway (I play micros) and any Ax, re-raising on the other hand probably eliminates some broadways and small aces is it worth risking a re-raise for that or maybe I should just fold?
braveboat said:
If you're crediting AA, KK, QQ (and maybe AK) in that spot - which I think is pretty spot on, you're still losing if you hit two pair. And if it's QQ you're ahead with any pair. A 4-bet from out of position that isn't a shove is pretty much QQ+ from most villains (at least on lower stakes), but luckily there's only 3 AA combos, so you have outs 3/4 of the time.
The tricky spot is if a King hits on the flop. Cause now there's 3 AA, 6 QQ, and 1 KK. Villain will c bet most of the time (it would be a mistake not to) so you at least gotta call one street. Now you're only ahead 6/10 times. If your villain fires the turn you have to make a judgement call: would your opponent double barrel a King high board with QQ after you've called a 4-bet pre flop and called a bet on the flop?
If you're folding this most times...what exactly are you raising or calling with? why would you not open raise with this hand and fold to a 3bet if you feel dominated or better yet call and see a flop. I think you are giving away a lot of equity by folding this. Actually I know you are.
Always play ace king with very little exceptions.
Under the gun a standard 4 x times the bb raise or so makes the rest of the table think you have ak-aq-or a pp. Mix it up under the gun you should be raising 4-5 times the bb or limp in to confuse your opponents only fold to a 3 times re raise assuming you could be up against aces. But don't assume this look for flops like a-5-9 and go from there your probably good here.
Under the gun a standard 4 x times the bb raise or so makes the rest of the table think you have ak-aq-or a pp. Mix it up under the gun you should be raising 4-5 times the bb or limp in to confuse your opponents only fold to a 3 times re raise assuming you could be up against aces. But don't assume this look for flops like a-5-9 and go from there your probably good here.
AK is just way to strong to fold, in any position, any day of the week. If you get customers, they are usually behind you to the flop, and AK does often flop well. If you miss the flop and the customer bets into you, or raises your Cbet, you could re-evaluate