pokeroom.com – Ace,King:
Posted on November 5, 2008
Filed Under Online Poker
www.pokeroom.com – This is of course one of the most desirable hands to start with and is very powerful in Holdem.
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It is famously loved by Phil Hellmuth amongst others, and can only be a big preflop underdog to (A,A) or (K,K). Although the chances of your opponent holding these big pairs is diminished due to you holding one of each of that variety of card, you should not discount this danger. Especially on full tables, when there is serious action before the flop, it is always possible for your opponent to be sitting on a monster.
I am as happy as the next player to look down at (A,K) and I obviously prefer it when it is suited, but the key to playing it I feel, is preflop. Personally I believe it is important to be raising the pot sizeably preflop, because you want someone to perhaps get tempted with A,Q, or even (A,J) suited if they are that type of player. What you do not want, is someone calling with two live cards such as suited connectors or (Q,J), and a decent raise preflop will usually weed these sort of hands out. The danger to (A,K) if you are called, will usually be a pair which has called, often (J,J) or lower. The reason I do not include (Q,Q) in this, is that most players I play with would reraise you preflop as opposed to flat calling.
If you hit an ace or king on the flop and there is no obvious danger from a straight or flush, then I would raise very strongly on the flop. I would also do this if there is any card above a ten on the board. The reason being, that if your opponent has called with a medium pair which is likely, any overcard is probably going to trouble them enough to fold. If you are reraised all in at this point you have a big decision. The main danger being that your opponent has called with an underpair and flopped a set, although if an Ace and Queen come on the flop, be wary of the two pair.
Overall I think that aggression with (A,K) is always important, even if you miss the flop, but be prepared to throw it away the moment you are reraised if you have not hit the flop.
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