Betting AK unimproved to the river

[MikeyInc]

AT FULL TABLE 20/40 LIMIT I HAD FOLLOWING SITUATION.

I WAS ON FIRST POSITION WITH AK .I raise .I HAD 2 CALLERS BEHIND ME. FLOP WAS 10 4 9.I BET AGAIN PLAYER BEHIND ME FOLDED ANOTHER ONE CALLED.TURN WAS 4 AND I BET AGAIN HOPPING TO TAKE POT RIGHT THERE. UNFORTUNATELY HE CALLED.RIVER WAS J AND I BET AGAIN. HE CALLED AND SHOW PAIR OF 2.I WAS PLAYING AGGRESSIVE TRYING TO GET THAT PLAYER TO FOLD.SHOULD I PLAYED DIFFERENTLY????

[Jonathank]

obviously. you lost the maximum.

[iceveins0901]

you should end most of your bluffs after the flop, rarely betting the turn with nothing, AK isnt anything.

[Fictive]

Playing AK like that OOP can, like in this case, cost a lot money. I don't mind betting the turn either, maybe about 3/4 of a pot, I can see why you did try betting the river too, given that there was a possibility of a straight, maybe a flush too, that didn't come up in your original post.

However, what would've been smarter on the flop was to check, and if he bet, either muck, or make a big check-raise. Taht ought to drive him out. If he did call, quite often a big bet on the turn after the check-raise works. If he checked behind you, no more money lost, and you just got a free card.

[irishpkr]

This is limit Fictive, no big c/r or 3/4pot bets :P

I might bet this flop but then I'm giving up. If i was playing NL 6max and got two callers behind, I might not even cbet this flop sometimes. Ofcourse you didnt specify the suits of the cards on the board, but there are straight draws out there, and its likely to have hit their calling range (SCs). Turn isnt a good card to fire at again, what exactly does it change? If he calls the flop, hes gonna call a bet on the 4 for sure. Given up by the river

[liladypokerpro]

You have to play AK as the hand it is...a drawing hand...Sometimes I'll get froggy and see a turn with it, but in most cases I'll use the initial pre-flop raise, and if any stay in, then I'll judge according to the flop from there. That is to say, unless I've go a good solid read on the player I'm up against. I tend to get a quick reputation for being a very tight player, and once I've achieved that reputation at the table, it's much easier to bluff people off a blank flop. I like to try the continuation bet in these cases, and most times, it is very effective. However, if you are being called on a consistent basis, this strategy may not work in your favor.

Also, the bet size is crucial. If you are only betting minimum, or the bet is too small as compared with the pot or the other player's stack, then of course, you can expect a call every time.

[PointerJake]

I agree. AK is a drawing hand not all that good on a low flop. I only bluff with it when I have a really tight table image. The problem with trying to push out players when a low flop comes is that more than likley the callers who just called a preflop raise, have a low pocket pair. And they arent going anywhere.

[Fictive]

Originally Posted by irishpkr This is limit Fictive

Lol, so it is. I've gotten so used to no limit, and how everyone around me plays only that, I don't often even look at the game information much. I just see the blinds and go on babbling about.

[liladypokerpro]

LOL Me too Fictive...especially when I've just woken up LOL

[stoffmakers]

like most hands when you dont connect, make a continuation bet to see where ur at, and if they call, it might be wise just to check the turn, but if u bet and they call again, why bet the river too, u gotta figure ull be getting called with those odds.