If the effective stacks (shortest stack in play) are small then your best move is often to get all-in before the flop with this hand. The stack size of both you and opponents in the hand are a critical factor in playing ace-king. Hand 2 (3:22) and Hand 5 (12:36) use AK as examples. You might like the multi-way cbetting video for strategy on dealing with tricky flops when facing 2 or more players. When this gets called you have the added advantage of being able to see the river for free if your opponent checks to you after the turn.

If that opponent checks to you on the flop you will often be able to take the pot away from them with a continuation bet. Raising, especially from position, will thin the field – ideally to a single opponent. The ideal situation with this hand is that you take control before the flop by playing aggressive and positive poker. This makes ace-king a hand to play strongly and positively until you encounter resistance, both before the flop and in later betting. At the same time this hand has a strong likelihood of improving to become the best hand, any ace or king on the board will give you top pair with top kicker. Under these circumstances the hand should usually be folded to any serious betting action from opponents.Īce-King is a hand that you definitely do not want to be playing against multiple opponents.Īce-king is in fact a drawing hand – you will usually need to improve to win a showdown. The worst possible outcome for ace-king is to be in a multi-way limped pot out of position and then to miss the flop.

These include your stack size, position at the table and the tendencies of opponents who are already in the pot, and those yet to act. This article will look at some of the important no-limit Holdem strategy considerations when playing ace-king. This makes playing ace-king problematic in some circumstances. However, unless you connect with the board you will have only an ace-high hand to show down at the end. Ace-King, especially when suited, is a very strong starting hand in No-Limit Holdem Poker.

Poker straight king ace two