Everyone who competes in texas hold’em knows that Ace-King is one of the best opening hands. But, it’s just that, a starting hand. It’s only 2 cards of a 7-card formula. In nearly each new situation, you’ll want to come out firing with Ace-King as your hole cards. When the flop comes, you need to reassess your cards and consider things completely before you just assume your overcards are the greatest.
Like most other situations in holdem, understanding your rivals will help you gauge your position when you hold A-K and see a flop like nine-eight-two. After you wager preflop and were called, you presume your opponent is also holding good cards and the flop may have missed them as poorly as it by-passed you. Your assuming will frequently be precise. Also, do not forget that many lousy players would not know good cards if they fall over them and might have called with Ace-Something and paired the community board.
If your opponent checks, you could check and see a free card or make a wager and attempt to pick the pot up right there. If they wager, you might raise to observe if they are for real or fold. What you want to avoid is basically calling your opponent’s wager to observe what the turn results in. If any card instead of the Ace or King is turned over, you will not have any more information than you did following the flop. Let’s say the turn brings a four and your opponent wagers once more, what should you do? To call a wager on the flop you had to think your hand was the best, so you have to surely believe it remains so. So, you call a wager on the turn and 1 more on the river to figure out that your opposing player was holding 10-8 and just a second pair after the flop. At that point, it hits you that a raise the bet following the flop could have won the pot right there.
Ace-King is a gorgeous combination to find in your hole cards. Just be sure you wager on them astutely and they can bring you great happiness at the poker table.
