There have been a lot of posts about AK, and I think most people said they always raise AK and follow up with a bet even on missed flops. I am curious how many of you find this works well at 50NL, and how playing AK is different at higher limits.

I guess I'm a little annoyed. Today I started playing 4 tables at 50NL, and in the first 5 minutes I got about 6-7 AK hands at the different tables. I raised each of them to $2-$3, followed up with a 3/4 pot bet and lost all of them. If I'm out of position, I got raised. If I was in position I got check-raised and had to give up the hand. I was surprised given that this was early in the session, they couldn't have any idea how I play AK.

My impression is that at 50NL, when you raise, people assume is most of the time AK, and the play like it's AK. If there's A/K on the flop, you don't really make money. If not, they get aggressive with any piece of the flop. This is great when you have overcards, but not when you have a missed AK hand.

I wonder if at 50NL AK should be limped a lot of times, raised in position, bet less often on the flop. I make more money with AK when I don't raise and beat AQ/AJ with A on the flop. Sounds passive, but I'm pissed for loosing half buy-in just on missed AK hands I got raised out of, and I tightened up until I get some reads on the other players.

I think it really has to be an unusual table (either overly tight or overly LAG) not to raise AK pre-flop. What the raise basically accomplishes is to get the field under control by limiting it to ideally 2 callers.

Moreover, I see no reason to let BB play for free when you're ahead more often than not. For a long time, I also routinely bet the flop with unimproved AK in a limited field, but I don't have any objection to just check-folding either if you don't improve. Probably the best way to do it is really more by feel.

It sounds to me like you have just been unlucky.

If you raise 4-6xBB preflop and still get callers every time you should start raising bigger.

There are some flops that connect better with your opponents holdings than others. If the flop is J98 there is a good chance it hit your opponents (most poker players love to play JT).

If the flop is 952 it is less likely to hit your opponents. But on a flop like this players with 77 will call to see if you bet again on turn. Against some players you can bet again on turn if they called your bet on flop.
Watch what the players call your preflop raises with, and what they call you with on flop.

I limp more with AK than most people Im quite sure. The times an ace flop and I win a decent pot from someone wit a weaker ace (who wouldve folded to a raise) makes up for some other bad scenarios that I get for not raising.

Example: $5/$10

(This is AQ but same difference)

MP limps, I limp in the cut off with AQ, both blinds play.
Pot $40. Flop AJ4. Checked to me and I bet $30. SB calls.
Pot $100. Turn 8. I bet $60 and he calls.
Pot $220. RIver 7. Check/check. ( I shouldve bet about $80-$100 probably). I win and beat his A9. Most people wouldve folded A9 to a raise.

This is what typically happens in the NL game... this is from a $30 SNG, which are probably similar players...

I'm in MP w/ ... I raise to $100 (about 5xBB after 3 limpers)... 1 guy calls...

Flop ... I bet another $125, he thinks for a second then folds...

A lot of times I'll throw in a turn bet, as that gets about another 25% of people to fold... But, with this pretty coordinated board, I probably would've check/folded the turn... But, I get this fold pretty frequently...

Alex... I don't raise NEARLY that much with them... I'll actually limp probably close to 40% of the time, depending on how tight/passive the table is... Like Ice said, it's good to limp cause you can sometimes get someone playing a weak ace to stay in the hand... The flip side is that, occasionally, you'll lose a buttload of money when you let someone limp in w/ and they hit their 2pr on a A85 board...

The main difference in AK is that it is much more profitable at lower levels than it is the higher levels. People at lower levels love weak aces and kings, and don't fold them often when they hit. AK is never going to be a huge money winner for you at the higher levels, but can be one of your most profitable hands at the lower limits.

palman, with all of our AK deliberation, I'd be most interested in hearing how you play it and how it works for you. I mean, you're definitely not a player known for lack of aggression, and I know you're also comfortable at the higher levels.

I think you're definitely right in your assessment, but it really should still be a clear money winner at all levels (and a pretty decent one), shouldn't it?