Everyone who participates in hold’em understands that a-k is one of the greatest opening hands. But, it is simply that, an opening hand. It is just 2 cards of a seven-card formula. In nearly each new situation, you want to come out guns blaring with A-K as your hole cards. When the flop comes, you need to analyze your hand and think things through before you just assume your cards are the greatest.
Like many other opportunities in texas hold’em, understanding your opponents will help you gauge your situation when you hold A-K and observe a flop like 9-8-2. After you bet preflop and were called, you presume your opponent is also holding good cards and the flop may have missed them as poorly as it missed you. Your assuming will frequently be correct. Also, do not overlook that many lousy competitors wouldn’t understand excellent cards if they fall over them and possibly could have called with Ace-x and paired the table.
If your opposing player checks, you could check and observe a free card or lay a bet and try to grab the pot up right then. If they bet, you might raise to see if they’re in or fold. What you wish to avoid is simply calling your competitor’s wager to see what the turn brings. If any card other than and Ace or King is shown, you will not have any more info than you did after the flop. Let us say the turn brings a 4 and your opponent bets once more, what should you do? To call a bet on the flop you had to think your hand was the greatest, so you have to truly think it still is. So, you call a bet on the turn and one more on the river to discover that your opponent has a hand of 10-8 and just a second pair following the flop. At that time, it hits you that a raise the bet after the flop could have won the pot right there.
Ace-King is a beautiful combination to find in your hole cards. Just be certain you participate in them intelligently and they can achieve you amazing cheerfulness at the poker table.
