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Slowplaying AK

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  1. NIURAT NIURAT is offline

    Dekalb, IL
    United States

    Posts: 246
    Joined: Feb 05

    Apr 27th, 2005 (4/27/2005 3:15am)

    From everything I've come to understand about poker, slow playing AK pre-flop just seems like a long run costly approach to the potential profit this premium drawing type hand is capable of.

    I have had AK slow played against me on two notable occasions. One resulted in a sizable lose (I had a naked ace on the BB, and the flop came A A X), and on the other occasion I caught the charade before it cost me too much.

    I'm all about mixing up your play. I like the idea of adjusting what hands you limp with versus raise versus fold, versus check raise with. I think its essential to be profitable and dangerous opponent. But Im still very skeptical about the limping with AK play. It just seems like too easy of a way to let people make hands they wouldnt have normally played without isolating the sucker hands like AQ AJ AT and KQ. I can see this as a way to convince seasoned players to play there marginal hands into an AK, but still feel that creates big lose potential.

    Any farther discussion or analysis would be appreciated.
  2. steve steve is offline

    Memphis, TN
    United States

    Posts: 1,469
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    Apr 27th, 2005 (4/27/2005 11:34am) in reply to NIURAT

    In general, I think your analysis is correct. Someone else made a point in a different thread that if you're going to slowplay a big hand, you have to have the ability to fold that hand when the flop misses you. For example, let's say I limp with AK, and get 4 callers. Flop comes 10 high, no draws. Seems like a decent flop for AK, but if you bet the hand, a person with JT, or middle pair is likely going to call your bet, and you'll end up seeing a turn with ace high, always an untenable situation.

    Same situation, but you raise preflop, and get 2 callers. Now your flop bet is more credible, because you have shown strength before the flop as well. In your opponents' minds, you may be raising with AT, TT, any pocket pair above 10s, or a lower pair that made a set on the flop. Your AK is less likely to get called down with a marginal hand, and you can often pick the pot up on the flop, which is ideal when you have AK and the flop misses you.
  3. supermoves supermoves is offline invented poker

    Posts: 6,840
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    Apr 27th, 2005 (4/27/2005 11:44am) in reply to NIURAT

    everytime you enter the pot enter for a 3xBB raise...occasionally do it with something crappy like 6-4 or 7-3, then when everyone folds, show your cards...no one will ever know what you have.
    1
  4. Gabovitch Gabovitch is offline

    Nashville, TN
    United States

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    Apr 27th, 2005 (4/27/2005 11:48am) in reply to NIURAT

    Its almost always a bad play. Only time I'd ever do would be if someone had been trying to run over me on my left and raising me every time I tried to limp in. I suppose it could make sense in that case to slowplay just so you could reraise and shut him out. Even with that scenario though, it would probably only be a good idea shorthanded.
  5. tekkhead tekkhead is offline

    Brooklyn, NY
    United States

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    Apr 27th, 2005 (4/27/2005 12:35pm) in reply to Gabovitch

    i think it depends a lot on position and your opponents..

    the only reason i would ever limp in ep w/AK was to reraise or just call a raise but i would have to be really sure i would get raised..

    from middle and late position it would depend on my opponents and how i wanted them to view my actions
  6. Aching Knee Aching Knee is offline

    Taiwan

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    Joined: Feb 05

    Apr 28th, 2005 (4/28/2005 2:15pm) in reply to NIURAT

    IT's called Big Slick for a reason, the hand hits it could be a Big hand Big pot won. BUT if the hand doesn't hit, it's slippery and still makes you think you have a powerful hand but in essence, you don't.

    Therefore, I agree with others that you should almost always raise preflop to show strength and if a low flop hits like 2 5 8 rainbow, you can keep the pedal to the medal and bet it strong and take it down, unless someone caught their set (but they won't have a chance of catching their set if you raise AK preflop unless they are gambling, then thats poker).
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