Most experts treat AK, as the third best starting hand. Actually AK is weaker than QQ and probably JJ and TT also. The problem or inconsistency rests in the EV, Expected Value, of AK. If you slow play or limp in with AK the EV is a little above 1, but if you bet it out the EV is about 10% higher. AK is grouped with AA and KK because that provides the best EV.

Many players struggle with AK because they continue to “Bet it like aces.” after the flop, and most have seen the AK in late position killed repeatedly when the player bets or raises all the way to the river to lose to a smaller pocket pair, when no Ace or King hits the board. Well TJ Cloutier may have suggested the solution in his book “Championship NO-Limit & Pot-Limit Hold’em;” “Never bet when the flop comes all rags.” That statement struck me the same way Fisher’s “The Queens Gambit is dead.” statement thirty years ago.

When no Ace or King comes on the flop, you simply hold two over cards. Continuing to bet is simply a bluff. It is even a stretch to call it a semi-bluff you are raising with the hope of the other opponents folding. The better play, depending upon the opponents of course, is to just give it up and hope for a free turn. Don’t throw good money after bad.

Good Luck.

JB