February 15, 2009 in Featured by Joe Abfalter

Playing Ace King, Don’t over value Big Slick

Ace King, also called Big Slick or Anna Kournikova, is one of the most over rated hands in the history of no limit hold’em poker. It’s exactly as the pitiful side name Anna Kournikova refers too: She looks good but doesn’t win a lot. Playing Ace King is very hard.

So how in the hell do you play this hand?  How in gods name can you make sure you always win Ace King?

Ace King. When you get it in a cash game or tournament of whatever it is you are playing, you get a little bit of goosebumps. Serious research has pointed out that most people go broke or die in a tournament because of overplaying Ace King, especially Ace King suited. Before we go further with the analysis of AK, please hold in mind that not only with Ace King, but with all suited cards, against unsuited cards the increased winning percentage that comes with suited cards is only a percent!

OK, so if most people loose more than they win with Ace King, and lose at especially crucial times, then what is it that they are doing wrong playing AK? First of all we are going to take a look at the potential of AK, after that we will follow up with how Ace King actually should be played and how it should not be played.
AK is the best drawing hand. AK can beat EVERY HAND, it is only a big underdog against AA and KK. The rest of the hands are either just as strong or slightly stronger or a lot worse than AK. Hence you would say, AK is one of the best hands. This is, mathematically said, true.
But it is one of the most complicated and tricky hands too. AK is no favorite against 2-2, 3-3 is. But then again, it is not much more of an underdog against QQ, one of the strongest starting hands in NL Hold’em.

So, how should one play this complicated hand then?

Ace King should be played with caution, but also with aggression. Aggression being a good overall strategy anyhow, but especially when you hold AK. In tournaments you can be ultra aggressive with AK. But when it come to shove time YOU need to be the one shoving. NEVER call an all in with AK in tournaments as you are no favorite against all pairs and only a slightly favorite against other drawing hands like QJ and 10J. But if you are the one that is raising or re-raising with AK you could make people lay down 9-9, 10-10 and even Jacks. This is the real strength of AK, representing KK or AA. Never go in a coin flip situation though with AK. Don’t call off your whole stack with AK in tournaments, in cash you should be cautious. Don’t go to far with AK as most of the times you are flipping a coin, and we are not in the casino gambling, we are here playing poker. Most people overrate AK. When the flop doesn’t hit they don’t only continuation bet with AK, they even bet again at the turn cause they just fall in love with big slick. Please don’t do this. Raising pre flop is fine but please don’t bluff everything with AK. This is the biggest mistake made. AK is nothing better than 23 if it doesn’t hit. Playing draw poker is to expensive in no limit hold’em. Remember that.

Joe Abfalter

I really need to get something written in here… Some day I will…..