ak to raise or not to raise pre-flop.

[gcirons 0]

In the last week I have had AK about six times and I have raised pre-flop on each occasion. Each time I did, I got cracked by someone holding the likes of a J-10. So my question is this. Is it correct to raise pre-flop with AK or should it be treated like any other connector, limp in and hope to catch the best of it?

[RonBurgundy 0]

yes. limp late position. fold EP. :roll:

[econ_tim 0]

WTF?In small stakes games, ALWAYS raise, threebet, and, if possible, cap with AK. You can't worry about it getting cracked by J-T. And you don't have to play it all the way to the river. But you at least have to make the pot big preflop so you get paid off when you hit.

[gcirons 0]

Yes I have heard conflicting answers to this. Some say cap it, others say tread lightly because it's not a made hand. I am just wondering what the experiences of other players are?

[econ_tim 0]

Yes I have heard conflicting answers to this. Some say cap it, others say tread lightly because it's not a made hand. I am just wondering what the experiences of other players are?

Are you talking about limit hold'em? Because there shouldn't be conflicting answers. Most of the time when you have AK it is the best starting hand, and you raise for value (and to reduce the number of people who see the flop). Don't worry about Ron Burgundy, he is just being sarcastic.In no limit games, sometimes you might just call a raise with AK, but you would usually make a standard raise if you are first to enter the pot. The strategy here is more variable.

[Vade 0]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

[Filesharer 0]

Yeah, of course, in limit holdem you nearly always play it as strongly as you can. Never limp. If it hasn't been raised yet you have to raise yourself. If there's just been one raise virtually always 3-bet.

[econ_tim 0]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

OK, maybe I was getting a little carried away with my enthusiasm for AK, but I want the OP to get the point that it is a raising hand. Also, I don't think capping is that bad of a play in many low stakes games where people will 3-bet medium pairs or worse. Thanks for the reality check, though.

[gcirons 0]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

OK, maybe I was getting a little carried away with my enthusiasm for AK, but I want the OP to get the point that it is a raising hand. Also, I don't think capping is that bad of a play in many low stakes games where people will 3-bet medium pairs or worse. Thanks for the reality check, though.

yes but a medium pair is going to beat an AK if you don't catch an A or a King on the board, or if you don't get your straight -which is much less likely.

[econ_tim 0]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

OK, maybe I was getting a little carried away with my enthusiasm for AK, but I want the OP to get the point that it is a raising hand. Also, I don't think capping is that bad of a play in many low stakes games where people will 3-bet medium pairs or worse. Thanks for the reality check, though.

yes but a medium pair is going to beat an AK if you don't catch an A or a King on the board, or if you don't get your straight -which is much less likely.

You can also beat the middle pairs by making them fold when you haven't hit but there are scary overcards, but this doesn't work against maniacs.

[gcirons 0]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

OK, maybe I was getting a little carried away with my enthusiasm for AK, but I want the OP to get the point that it is a raising hand. Also, I don't think capping is that bad of a play in many low stakes games where people will 3-bet medium pairs or worse. Thanks for the reality check, though.

yes but a medium pair is going to beat an AK if you don't catch an A or a King on the board, or if you don't get your straight -which is much less likely.

You can also beat the middle pairs by making them fold when you haven't hit but there are scary overcards, but this doesn't work against maniacs.

Listen, I am not arguing. The feed back is great. But the fact that one can bet off medium pairs with scary over cards does not increase the value of an AK. I could bet out with crap like 10/2 when scary over cards are on the board with the same success.

[KDawgCometh 2]

IMO, the only hands you should cap with are AA, KK, and maaayyyybeeee AK on a very loose table in position.

eh, wrong. QQ and AKS are capping hands PF regardless too. I'll Cap w/AKo HU or threeway sometimes. AK is not a drawing hand people. YOu haev a lot of power with it. YOU need to learn how to play it well. YOU can win UI more with AK then with any other unpaired hand. I like to fire a bullet on the flop and hopefully get a free showdown with it. OP you need to post hands where you hvae AK. I bet that you are doing more then getting "sucked out" on. Look J10 is only a 40/60 dog to AK PF. you need to post hands instead of whining

[gcirons 0]

Would post my hands, but I don't think Brantford would go that far for a low limit player.I don't disagree with QQ. If i had that in the hole I would cap it. If an A or a King falls on the flop I would bet out for information. If I got raised I might lay it down depending on the pre-flop action. But if I was holding an AK pre-flop and put in a raise and was called, and the flop comes someting like j-10-7. I am laying it downI am not holding out for a Queen, or an A or a King.P.S. I am not claiming I got sucked out with Ak. You can't get sucked out of a hand that you have not made.

[wrto4556 0]

JJ is a capping hand under certain situations.

[KDawgCometh 2]

if they're hamds your playing at the casino, take notes on strange hands and type them up in here. Give us reads on the player, and we'll see wqhat you're doing wrong

[rwood 0]

pump up the pot, you have to raise for value here with your ak, and to try to push out players, although this is hard to do in low limits, AK is a strong hand and should be played accordingly....when they play their inferior hands, you get paid off long run remember...i know thats hard to keep in mind sometime, but that is why you 3 bet or cap with AK

[gcirons 0]

if they're hamds your playing at the casino, take notes on strange hands and type them up in here. Give us reads on the player, and we'll see wqhat you're doing wrong

will do in future. thanks