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"Many players who are new to Texas Hold'em poker believe that AK is an extremely strong starting hand, and they might even get very excited and push all-in when they have AK in their hand. While AK is indeed a good hand, the stronger the hand you have, the more cautious you should be, as you could still end up losing with it.
Poker legend and ten-time WSOP bracelet winner Doyle Brunson discussed his approach to playing AK before the flop in his book ""Super System."" Let's learn from his advice.
**How to Play AK Before the Flop:**
AK can even be stronger than AA/KK. Why is that? Because AA/KK are already made hands, and it's hard to fold big pairs like those. However, AK, especially suited AK, is a strong high card hand. While it may look very strong, it's actually not even as good as a pair of deuces. So, when you don't hit a good flop with AK, you should be prepared to fold it, which can save you money. But when you do hit a good flop, AK can win you a lot of money, especially if you hit the flop hard. For example, if your AK matches the board, and your opponent has a small connector like 7-6, and the board shows A-9-8, although it's a straight draw for your opponent, they have nothing yet, and only the next two cards can help them. This is a good time to extract value from your opponent while they are drawing.
Of course, there are exceptions to these situations. For example, if the flop comes with three high cards in a row or two high cards of the same suit (like A♠-J♥-T♠ or K♦-J♦-T♣), then both your A and K could potentially help you and your opponent. This makes the situation more complicated.
**Position Matters for Playing AK:**
Your position at the poker table also affects how you should play AK. If you're in an early position, you can consider limping or making a standard raise with AK. If you're in a middle position, a standard raise is usually a good play to control the pot size and potentially isolate weaker players. When you're in a late position, especially on the button, you can be more aggressive and raise or re-raise with AK.
**When to Go All-In with AK:**
Brunson also discusses situations where he'd go all-in with AK. For example, if he's in an early position and limps, two players call behind him, and the button (last to act) raises, he might consider going all-in. This is because the button's raise might indicate a weaker hand since the three players before him just called, creating a large pot with many players involved. In such a scenario, the button's raise might be a steal attempt, and going all-in could help you win the pot uncontested. However, it's essential to be aware that going all-in with AK carries some risk, as your opponents may call with stronger hands.
Remember that poker is a game of strategy and psychology, and the way you play your strong hands like AK should depend on various factors, including your position, your opponents' tendencies, and the overall table dynamics. Always be flexible in your approach and adapt to the specific situation." |
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Post time 26-9-2023 22:27:33