Poker News

George Epstein

Like most hold’em players — young and old, I always raised pre-flop whenever I was dealt an A-K, but now I have changed my ways. (Note: This strategy is bound to be controversial.) A-K is one of the best starting hands, especially if suited. But A-K is a drawing hand. Usually you need to improve to have a decentshot at the pot. If you catch an ace on the flop, your pair of aces with the king kicker is the best hand — unless someone has caught a set. The same applies if a king flops.

Even if an opponent has a pair in the hole, his chance of flopping a set is rather slim — about 8-to-1 against him. Whereas starting with A-K, you can expect to flop either an ace or a king about 1 out of 3 hands. Yes, the A-K is a super starting hand. So what is the best way to play it?

Should You Raise? Let’s consider the A-K unsuited. Raising in an early-middle positions should force some opponents to fold — reducing the size of the playing field, RSPF. You do that to gain a better chance of a big pair holding up to the end — assuming your A-K will connect. But the odds are you won’t improve on the flop, so why invest a double bet. Just calling is the preferred strategy here.

Raising in late position won’t force out opponents who have already invested one bet. The blinds may fold, but not those others; they want to see the flop for the price of one more small bet. So, here again, it generally makes better sense to just call. See the flop first; raise if you connect. Then, with less $$$ in the pot, opponents who did not improve on the flop will fold, giving you’re A-A (or K-K with the ace kicker) a better chance of holding up and taking the pot. Also, when an ace flops, an opponent holding A-rag who now has A-A - - but second to your king kicker — will stay in all the way, paying you off to the showdown.

The only time it’s wise to raise pre-flop with A-K is when only one player has called and you are on, or just before, the button. Raise to force out the blinds and hopefully play heads up — or take the pot if everyone folds. If your opponent called the raise, he probably will check on the flop. If he is not an overly loose/deceptive player, consider betting no matter what falls; you might take the pot right then and there.

A-K Suited. Suited A-K could lead to the nut flush. Since this is almost (but not always) certain to win, you want the pot as large as possible. So raising pre-flop to RSPF is not prudent; keep them in the pot to contribute if/when you make the flush.

Should the flop bring four-to-a-flush, don’t go wild and start raising. Wait until the flush arrives before raising. Should you be fortunate and make the flush on the flop (Wow!), play it slow to keep them interested. Don’t RSPF.

But if the turn brings a pair on theboard, you could be in trouble. Someone could have a full boat, although trips or two pair is more likely. Be cautious in that case. So readers, what’s YOUR opinion?

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