Each and every one who competes in holdem knows that a-k is one of the greatest opening hands. But, it’s simply that, an opening hand. It is simply two cards of a 7-card equation. In just about every situation, you want to jump out firing with Ace-King as your hole cards. When the flop comes, you need to analyze your cards and think things through before you just deduce that your cards are the greatest.
Like most other situations in texas hold’em, knowing your competitors will help you gauge your situation when you hold Ace-King and observe a flop like 9-8-2. Since you bet preflop and were called, you presume your competitor is also possessing good cards and the flop may have missed them as poorly as it missed you. Your assumption will frequently be correct. Also, don’t overlook that many poor players wouldn’t understand excellent cards if they tripped over them and could have called with Ace-x and paired the community board.
If your opposition checks, you might check and see a free card or make a wager and attempt to grab the pot up right there. If they wager, you can raise to see if they are in or fold. What you wish to avert is simply calling your opponent’s wager to see what the turn gives rise to. If any card instead of the Ace or King hits, you won’t know any more information than you did following the flop. Let’s say the turn results in a four and your opponent wagers yet again, what should you do? To call a bet on the flop you had to anticipate your hand was the best, so you have to truly believe it remains so. So, you call a bet on the turn and 1 more on the river to figure out that your opposition was holding ten-eight and only had second pair after the flop. At that time, it hits you that a raise the bet after the flop might have won the money right then.
A-K is a beautiful thing to see in your hole cards. Just be certain you gamble on them carefully and they’ll bring you awesome happiness at the poker table.