AK Short Handed

[M3boy]

I would put that player on AA or KK.

So 125 to call to win 275     so 2.2 to 1 on our money

We hold AK o/s vs AA or KK - we would win 6% vs AA and 30% vs KK

A loosing play in the long run

[Royal Flush]

I would put that player on AA or KK.

So 125 to call to win 275     so 2.2 to 1 on our money

We hold AK o/s vs AA or KK - we would win 6% vs AA and 30% vs KK

A loosing play in the long run

Ok cool i was putting the range at AA-QQ and sometimes AK.

[Highstack]

After reraising to 75 and him re-reraising all in to 200, his hand is virtually face up here, so it should be an obvious pass ... but we all know that in reality on line we still probably call more often than we should in these spots. I do anyway , but then I am a complete station in these kind of situations.

Tbh I probably only call the £24 though.

[TightPaulFolds]

Fold, without hesitation. At the very best, a race. Even that is -EV. What if A or K comes on the flop? Nice time to find out he hit trips.
I just don't think this is how to make money in cash, especially against a tight player, but I don't like playing AK here against this big raise from anyone.
If they were a total drunk lunatic then I might go on a gamble, you can sometimes guess Ax with reasonable success.
In a tourney, slightly different situation. Cash, easy pass.

[TightPaulFolds]

And if you're not folding, you push, no way you call to see a flop. He knows you don't have AA, you would have pushed, he knows you think he may have AA KK, otherwise he probably would have flat called. No AK on the flop, he can pull you around by the nose. No no no no no. Fold.

[Smart Money]

I know this particular situation is referring to a short-handed game, but I presume many opinions on how to play the hand wouldn't alter too much from a full-handed game. Virtually all my cash game experience is from playing full-handed and this is how I would act on one of those tables. Admittedly I'm not experienced enough at 6-handed tables to confidently say whether I think it would also be the optimum play there.



In the long-term, you are -EV if you choose to stay in the hand. A large raise like this is usually AA/KK and so if your hand does improve on the flop, you'll typically pick up a relatively small pot or, more often, lose a shit load.

Only if you know your opponent to be a complete loose muppet should you consider calling here, and I'd often still fold without position on him.

Ask yourself how you'd play AK (or KK) in a tournament. If your answer is the same to how you'd play it at the cash table then you are most likely playing it wrong [at the cash table.] AK (or KK) is not a hand you should be prepared to go bust with pre-flop at a deep-stacked cash table, and AK is not a hand you want to be calling a large re-raise with pre-flop especially OOP. At least with KK, or any pair, you can hope to hit a set and you pretty much now where you are.

A good cash player doesn't need to put himself into too many "gambling" situations. You just need to play with patience and position. Cash tables can be very profitable for experienced cash players simply because many, often good, tournament players can't adjust to the significantly different styles of play.

[M3boy]

A good cash player doesn't need to put himself into too many "gambling" situations. You just need to play with patience and position. Cash tables can be very profitable for experienced cash players simply because many, often good, tournament players can't adjust to the significantly different styles of play.

Absolutely spot on

[TightPaulFolds]

A good cash player doesn't need to put himself into too many "gambling" situations. You just need to play with patience and position.

Good post, apart from this bit. 'You just need to play with patience and position and beer. Beer is crucial.