It seems I go on runs of betting unimproved AK and winning it by betting people out by the river and then a run of betting it on seemingly blank flops and getting someone playing back at me or check raising me EVERY time. They have been days long where I seem to win EVERY AK or get checkraised on EVERY miss like they know I will fold. I've won many good pots by forcing people to fold but this play seems to add to variance.

Do you just give it up and fold/check and wait to catch? Only bet it against the easy folders (low showdown percentage). If you get check raised on a blank flop, when/should you call with overcards you believe to be good? What about the turn? It just seems like I'm getting my pocket picked by the whole table seeing that I bet and fold to a raise. If I ever try to 3-bet representing an overpair, they call me down and win unless i get lucky and catch.

These types of hands have been a big influence on my $$$ and I want opinions. Please comment!

This is the ultimate "it depends" question. The more opponents in the hand, the less likely I am to bet (more than 2 and I am inclined to check). The more cards in the playing zone, the less likely I am to bet. I only continue betting if
-I am being called by a calling station who likes to see the turn because it's cheap, but often folds on the turn.
-There is only one person calling and an obvious draw on board, like 2 low flush cards.

Someone who check raises the preflop raiser almost always has something like top pair or an overpair, and is trying to push out overcards. You'll get called down too often to try to bluff against most opponents (even though they think you have a big pair, their top pair or overpair just looks too damn good to let go).

When you should just call depends on whether or not you think hitting top pair will be good, and the pot odds you are getting. You need around 7:1 or better. Raising for the free card may be a good option if you are in position.

AK is a good hand, but if it misses, you're left with A high and only two cards to come. This is a marginal situation, and it's hard to shoot your way out of marginal situations in low limit hold 'em.

You only hit top pair with AK about 1 in every 3 times, so maybe your expectations are too high for this hand. Remember, all you have with AK is sweet potential.

If I miss the flop, I'll bet if:

1) I'm facing less than 3 opponents

2) the board is uncoordinated like J-6-2 rainbow, or something like 7-7-2

If a player leads into me I usually fold unless I'm getting 8:1 or better. Some of the time overcards are not good so I don't like to push it. However, if I'm in position I may raise a flop bet from a bad player and take the free card approach on the turn.

All in all, I think post flop AK play is a leak for most players. You need to have a very good reason to continue with the hand if you don't hit.