Big slick theory and practice

[Rhound50]

I went back and looked at my last 50k hands as a litle check up for my game since I'm in a bit of a downswing. My results show good returns with all PP's, and overall very good with SC, but what surprised me is I'm slightly down overall with AK. I went back though and looked at some of the big hands I've played with AK, I seem to be either losing big pots or winning small pots. My theory to this point has been to limp about 2/3 of the time and try to trap people with a smaller kicker with the idea that I am good enough to get away from the hand when I'm I run into a set or two pair. In unraised pots I have actually shown a good return, I have been able to fold when I suspect 2 pair or a set and have been won a couple big pots where I trapped someone who probably didnt think I could have limped with AK. My issue has been in raised pots, limping and calling a raise means that almost everytime I am going to be OOP. I keep getting myself in trouble with TPTK OOP against sets. When I flop a pair and either lead or check raise it usually ends up in a fold unless I'm beat. I seems like fewer and fewer people are raising AQ and then are willing to play a big pot when they hit the A. So my question is should I just fold AK to a raise OOP? Any comments, thoughts, suggestions.

[Xaston]

You should just raise it all the damn time.

[WildBillHickok]

[Triple B]

[iceman5]

[Aisthesis]

I agree more with Xas than ice here. Sometimes limping with AK in EP is ok, but I would raise it more often than limp it.

I really can't see why it should be a loser unless you're not laying down fast enough--also full pot CBs might make it leak a little. I do think in limp pots you're going to pull dominated hands along more often, but you're also going to get sideswiped by some 2 pair type stuff as well.

Any idea why it's not looking good in raised pots?

I assume you check the turn when you miss. Also, if you hit and get raised, I think you're very often in trouble unless it's a LAG who's raising you. In my experience, a dominated ace will rarely raise but will often call and will let you know on the turn if they happen to hit 2 pair.

Also, I essentially NEVER call a re-raise with AK, although I'm very capable of re-raising with it myself.

I'm trying to think of any other possible reasons why it might not be working for you, but I'm not really coming up with any. It could also be bad luck on a few big hands (?), although it takes quite a flop (or a read) for me to want to play AK for stack.

[Aisthesis]

As to the 4 callers, as ice mentioned, if you get that many routinely, then you should probably be raising bigger. If it just works out that way OOP, I usually wouldn't CB on a miss.

And on limp-calling AK OOP, I think the question becomes how you play various flops. If it's just 3-way, I'd probably check-raise a hit unless the raiser never CBs. More than that, and I'd definitely bet out a hit to find out where I'm at.

[Aisthesis]

Yet another thing: I'm not sure I agree with ice as to betting only two streets. I'll often bet the river as well on a hit. BUT... I'm also usually playing with people I know at least somewhat, and I can usually tell if they were drawing or not. I'm not completely sure whether I bet the river or check it (on a hit of course) more frequently. OOP, probably actually significantly more checks than bets. With position, probably more bets than checks.

[black_knight6]

Your analysis needs to centre around the big losses and big wins...what are you losing to, and what are you beating in the big losses and wins, respectively? Answer that, then I'll have more to say.

[AlexMR]