AK, doh!

[aLoner]

I do HOPE there's never been a post like this or general discussion alike, although in back of my mind I'm sure, but I really need your expert opinion on my most problematic hand which is AK.

Overall I'm in huge minus (w/ particular hand) and it is my most unprofitable hand. The reason is simple - I do feel uncomfortable and absolutely have no clue of how to play it. I can add of course my problem playing 3bet pots in general, but this is special.
Figured out that there's no big need in posting examples (I will if necessary), because it always goes pretty much like this:

In position: villain bets, I 3bet, villain flats. Checks flop, I cbet a-and most of the times get check-raised off my hand when I don't hit of course. If villain 4bets I pretty much talk myself into calling.
w/o position: I bet, do get 3bet'ed, I 4bet, if villain flats, w/o hitting check/fold, if villain shoves pre, pretty much talk myself into calling. Call me a donkey, but I'm not sure if that's wrong.

Can you make things easier for me? given1982, sir?

[ThatDeviant]

I like to treat it like any other solid unpaired high cards. It's a good starting hand but remember it's vunerable post flop. Making a cbet and it getting raised is fine, just dump it if you have nothing and move on. I know it's a dofficult hand to fold because it looks so pretty but a lot of the time you get married to it and it costs you a lot (as you found out).

How are your stats for AQ? Try playing AK in a simular manner. Of cource, you could be playing it fine and it's just a sample size issue.

Also, in position I'm a fan of flatting a bet and playing a smaller pot post flop with position. This is for the fact that when you're 3betting a lot of players auto put you on big cards (as at lower limits 3bet = big hands to a lot of people) so when they see you cbetting a 10 5 3r flop they bring out a check raise figuring you're only playing with overpairs. Not a rule, but I see it a lot.

[aLoner]

AQ is fine. Good thought, perhaps should try it. Checked out, was in shock, I actually do win with it 70+ % of the time. It's not that I'm complete idiot and look at AK like at AA, just that means the only problem is that I'm a donkey and go crazy with 3-4betting, talking myself straight into losing a stack. I mean, what's the point in shoving for equity or value or whatever, like Trikkur, when you don't understand much about that yet.

[ThatDeviant]

Especially in cash games where the hands normalise as the stacks are deeper. In a tournament 3 and 4 betting is standard with AK but in the CG's I think a more cautious route is good, especially if you find yourself in big pots with Ace high and don't know what to do with the hand.

[given1982]

What limits are you playing? It's super standard to try to get all in preflop against most players with AK at 200NL, but that's not necessarily the case at 10NL or 25NL. At those limits it's still ok against aggressive regulars who know that you're aggressive, but you shouldn't be auto4betting AK against everyone. If you are going to 4bet out of position, just go ahead and shove. And please don't call 4bets with AK. At micro stakes, you probably should be folding AK to 4bets a decent amount of the time, but if the opponent has an aggressive preflop game, just shove. And you can cbet less in 3bet pots if you find yourself getting played back at a lot. Boards like 89T two-tone are good ones to c/f against opponents that you fear might c/r you.

[sandervb]

i'm playing AK strong preflop, 3bet any, maybe lay it down to the 4bet. ofcourse i'm always cbetting like 85% of the flops, if he calls/raises, i'm done with it