How to play ace-king (AK) in Hold'em
Ace-king (AK), nicknamed “Big Slick”, is one of the best starting hands, but it’s not a pair. Before the flop it’s a strong hand to raise and 3-bet; after the flop it usually needs to hit an ace or king to win a big pot. You flop a pair or better only about one time in three.
How strong is AK?
Section titled “How strong is AK?”| AK (offsuit) against | AK wins about |
|---|---|
| A random hand | 65% |
| Q-Q | 43% |
| 7-7 | 45% |
| A-Q | 74% |
| A-A | 7% |
Against pairs below kings it’s close to a coin flip. Suited A-K wins a few percent more.
Preflop
Section titled “Preflop”- Raise when first in; 3-bet against raises. See 3-bet.
- Against a 4-bet with 100 big blinds, it depends on the player: against loose players go all-in, against very tight players calling or folding can be right.
- In tournaments with 25 big blinds or less, A-K is almost always an all-in hand. See push/fold.
After the flop
Section titled “After the flop”- Hit top pair: you have top pair with the best kicker. Bet for value.
- Missed (about two times in three): c-bet once on good boards (dry, high cards); give up on bad boards (low, connected) or against multiple players.
- Your overcards give you 6 outs if you think your opponent has a small pair.
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”- Calling down with ace-high after missing.
- Treating A-K like a pair and getting all-in on a low board.
- Limping A-K: raise instead. See limping.
See pocket aces, pocket kings and the poker odds cheat sheet.
Is ace-king a good hand?
Section titled “Is ace-king a good hand?”Yes, one of the best starting hands, but it’s not a pair and usually needs to hit the flop.
How often does AK hit the flop?
Section titled “How often does AK hit the flop?”It makes a pair or better about one time in three.
Is AK vs QQ a coin flip?
Section titled “Is AK vs QQ a coin flip?”Close to it: A-K offsuit wins about 43%, suited about 46%.
Should you go all-in with AK?
Section titled “Should you go all-in with AK?”In tournaments with 25 big blinds or less, almost always. With deep stacks it depends on the opponent.