how would you have played this hand?

[Sydenham]

5 pound Headhunter, 30 places paid. I had AK and made a fairly small raise about 3 times the blind, we're at level one or two. The flop comes AK5 with a flush draw. There are three or four people behind me. I figure I'm probably in front even with that many players so whack it all-in. There is a raise and obviously I'm beat. This guy has a set of 5s and makes quads. I don't really mind because that's the way I play, but would be interested to hear any comments.

[furlano62]

i dont think you played it that bad. i dont think that you should have went all in right away. but it really doesn't matter coz if you had top 2 pair and he had a set then you guys probablly would have end up all in anyways. so you really didn't play it that bad.

[slowpoke]

I would have raise 7.5-10x the blind...Just to see where I stood.

[Sydenham]

The only problem with this is everything. If the guy goes all-in you don't know what he has. Did he flop the straight? Has he got a set of kings? A mere flush draw? How do you know he doesn't have a pair of 4s?

At the end of the day there is no way to tell if somebody has flopped a set or even a made hand. The median Hold 'Em hand is two pair. I figured I was probably ahead. I was in early position, which was not good. If I'd been in late position and there had been a bet and an all-in in front of me I'd probably have folded, but again you never know what people have. Most players seem to think that if they flop a pair of aces they're in front, even in a multi-way pot. Most players will bet and call all the way.

[Gothman]

Headhunter tourneys, push with AK, even pre. Lots of gamblers in there, but you might of got called by the 55 anyway, as some peeps play any pair AJ-AK all in in HH. Saying that, with that flop I would be all in every time in that tournement. GL.

[emoneypitt]

That's just one of those hands you probably go broke on no matter what. Really hard to fold AK after you flopped 2 pair.

[swimfreak26]

That's probably the last play I would have made.

If you think you're ahead in a multiway pot, and you're first to act, with a fairly coordinated board of high cards (high likelyhood someone else hit something), I'd check, and get some money into the pot with the likely raises behind me. Then, I'd reraise...with all-in as a consideration depending on the action that happened.

In this case, you'd probably have had the opportunity to fold, with a likely raise, then re-raise to all in by the set.

The play gives you two advantages
1) you *likely* build the pot, which allows you to win more if you're ahead
2)if there is a ton of action, it allows you to guage where you stand on a very coordinated board, with flush and straight draws

The other play I'd make is a raise of ~1/2 - 2/3 the pot. This is a large raise, from first position, and you'll again get an idea of where you stand by the ensuing action. Going all-in I feel was one of the worst plays because if you're ahead you take down a small pot because everyone folds (way too much to call without something for everyone else), and if you're behind - you have NO chance to get out of the way.

[Doctorul]

I wouldn't have went all in then and there, mostly because of the flush draw I guess... As you said, the position didn't help you so you should have raised the pot or something like that. At least that's what I would have done.

This being the topic, I also have a question and I would like to see some opinions:
Freeroll tourney, on the bubble. I had about 25k in chips which was the average. Another very loose player (a bit maniac) at the table had about 30k.
I'm dealt KJ offsuit. The guy raises roughly the pot size and I call. The flop is 9 10 Q rainbow.
The guy raises to 3k, I go all in hoping he'll call and of course he does. He shows 9 10 and another 9 comes up on the turn. Game over.
Did I play it wrong or was it just another bad beat?

[swimfreak26]

That's just bad luck doctural.

[Sydenham]

I wouldn't have went all in then and there, mostly because of the flush draw I guess... As you said, the position didn't help you so you should have raised the pot or something like that. At least that's what I would have done.

This being the topic, I also have a question and I would like to see some opinions:
Freeroll tourney, on the bubble. I had about 25k in chips which was the average. Another very loose player (a bit maniac) at the table had about 30k.
I'm dealt KJ offsuit. The guy raises roughly the pot size and I call. The flop is 9 10 Q rainbow.
The guy raises to 3k, I go all in hoping he'll call and of course he does. He shows 9 10 and another 9 comes up on the turn. Game over.
Did I play it wrong or was it just another bad beat?

The mistake you made was calling with KJ. I would definitely have folded here, but once you flop a made hand with no flush draw against you what do you have to worry about but a house? You did right but were outdrawn by a muppet. Join the club.

[NielSz1]

surely not go all in on flop
bet pot I wouuld have done..
but think you never could get the pot because a small pocket pair is hard to read so it isn't a shame you lost this hand..

[theDN_12]

I think you acted too fast in the AK hand even though it's hard to be putting someone on a set of fives there. Just that in the future, most of the time the only hands that will call your push is a hand that beats yours or someone making a donkey call. You want to get chips when you have a hand.

In the KJ, nothing you can do there besides like the other guy said probably fold preflop.

[IFixlexus]

I don't think the shove was all that bad. If there's a flush draw out there, you definetely want to make somebody pay to get there. Since there are only a few hands that can have you beat post flop, I don't see it being too profitable in the long run to lay down hands like this. Chances are if the caller has KK or AA you will get re raised pre flop here. The only hand you can really put somebody on is 55, but with a flop like this there is no way you're thinking bet, he raises, I fold. You're already thinking about how many chips you're about to have in front of you or how unlucky you have to be to have lost that hand.
In other words, you're money is commited. It's better to shove here rather than check or bet small. A5 will almost definetely call here as well as a few of the flush chasers.
I don't think you're going to be behind enough here to ever fold.
This might not make sense...I've had a few to drink. LOL.

[jimbo51]

The mistake you made was calling with KJ. I would definitely have folded here, but once you flop a made hand with no flush draw against you what do you have to worry about but a house? You did right but were outdrawn by a muppet. Join the club.

u can not do anyting about that i mean u floped the nuts and he got very lucky on u that is just a bad beat

[psychop4th]

raise more preflop. after havin' two pair all-in is ok i think

[hpplaya]

5 pound Headhunter, 30 places paid. I had AK and made a fairly small raise about 3 times the blind, we're at level one or two. The flop comes AK5 with a flush draw. There are three or four people behind me. I figure I'm probably in front even with that many players so whack it all-in. There is a raise and obviously I'm beat. This guy has a set of 5s and makes quads. I don't really mind because that's the way I play, but would be interested to hear any comments.

I would have came out strong... 1 I I want to get rid of the speculators 2 I am not fOnd of AK and would rather take down the blinds than get into an all in situation and lose. 3 It lets me know who has a strong hand up front... then I can decided hwo to play the turn and river. You didn't make a bad play but with the flush out there.. the only way to flush it out is again to raise. I wouldn't have gone all in just for that reason though.. Again just proves my theory AK isn't all that. But overall your play was good.

[freiaaron]

dont think you played it that bad. i dont think that you should have went all in right away. but it really doesn't matter coz if you had top 2 pair and he had a set then you guys probablly would have end up all in anyways. so you really didn't play it that bad

[gamer4life27]

Yes, the all in flop move was not good. There was no way you could have got away from that hand, even if you played it till the river. Unless your a pro, playing him live, and you have a REALLY good read on him, your not going to get away fromt his hand.