Playing Ace King
On Monday we had three players all fall by the wayside playing AK (suited in one case). Every time they played it they raised and subsequently called an all in. If you take a 50/50 bet at best dont expect to win every time.
AK is not easy to play. Id prefer a pair of ladies any day, but when it is not easy to play why is it so difficult to fold?
With AK I would never want to be playing more than two opponents and therfore bet accordingly to cut the field to two or less whenever possible. If there are two callers or say only one caller there is an argument that no raise is required. Betting your tournament on AK against QQ or lower is at best a 50/50 so why do it?
The way to play AK in my book is highly dependent on your position. In an early seat raise so that you cut down the field. Four to five times the blind is about the correct level. In a middle position try to weedle out any early callers or raisers. Look at how they have played previous big hands, if someone has made it five times to go and they always do this with Aces or Kings then fold. In a late seat such as on the button try to get the blinds to fold. In the blinds remember you do not mind playing one or two players but no more, so raise if there are more than two callers as you have position and are first to bet post flop. If there are only one or two callers then in no limit I would always check in the biog blind hoping to trap the remaining opponent or two.