Playing A K

A K is one of the best starting hands in the game of Texas Holdem. This is the kind of hand that you will want to raise before the flop. The only exception to this is if you were in either the small blind or the big blind and you want to just smooth call to conceal the strength of your hand. When you are in the small blind or the big blind, raises do not work quite as well as they do at other times, and the reason for this is that you will be playing the rest of the hand out of position.

Playing A K before the Flop

With A K as your hole cards, you should put a raise in before the flop. Not only will you be driving some players out of the pot and, maybe making sure there is some dead money in the pot, you will be gathering some information on the other players in the hand with you. By raising in either the small blind or in the big blind, you are probably going to be giving up more information by giving up the strength of your hand than you will gain by raising the other players that are still in the hand.

Playing A K on the Flop

When you have A K on the flop, it is a pretty certain bet that if you were not in the small blind or the big blind, then you probably bet or raised before the flop. You are playing a strong hand the way that you are supposed to be playing the hand. The flop can bring out a lot of cards that you do not like seeing in this situation. What you would like to see is one or more Ace or King and a rainbow flop. However, with any board, you need to make a continuation bet with the assumption that your hand is still good. Who knows? Maybe you will take down the pot right then and there. If you get called or raised, then you have gathered up some pretty useful information.

Playing A K on the Turn

Playing with an ace and a king on the turn, you should be getting a feel for whether or not you have the best hand. But, regardless, if the action is checked to you, then you should bet out again. Fire that second bullet or double barrel. Unless another player in the hand played back at you (raised you back) on the previous street, then you should try to retain the initiative by betting again.

Playing A K on the River

Playing an ace and a king on the river is the time when you have to decide the final fate of the hand. If another player has been calling you down the whole way, and there was a straight draw or a flush draw that did not materialize, then betting yet again on this street would probably push them out of the pot. If you did not improve on your ace and king, then you should definitely try to see if you can buy the pot. If you did pair either your ace or your king, then you may consider checking on this street because you figure that you will only get called by a hand that would beat you. The other option is to bet your hand for value, and hope that the other player in the hand is calling with an ace or a king and a lower kicker.