The 15% push rule with AK

[Im_new]

Alright, AK and I are not getting along right now...In fact, I think that he and I are getting a divorce immediately! Every time I notice that there is quite a pot to be taken and I have AK, a "premium" hand, I push it and lose to something like a pair because I don't hit. This just happened 4 times in a row, each time leading to my elimination... are there more restrictions to this rule that I'm not aware of? Should I follow this rule on the bubble?



(Note: I'm venting. Most people who critiqued my tournaments, generally, had good things to say, so I guess this is VARIANCE kicking my behind! I'm on a 32 game downswing while playing generally satisfactory poker worthy of a non negative ROI $2 tables (not much skill needed, I know lol)... This sucks .

[Im_new]

^^^Bump^^^

Is anyone going to comment? I really want to know if the rule has stipulations because I was just knocked out three more tourneys with AK.

[philly and the phanatics]

next time you go on a streak of 4 ak's beating pairs, are you going to post a thread about how bad you feel for them?...The only times to lay down ace king are when you have rock solid reads or maybe 5 people all in'ing and raising and calling and whatever all in front of you....even then sometimes you call...as for playing on the bubble you would not be playing to win if you folded ak more easily 4 or 5 handed than you did 9, which is not a mindset you want to make a habit

[Im_new]

Thanks, Philly. I'm just terribly frustrated with my "luck" lately. I've never hand an "upswing" to balance this pain out. You know, these downswings are tough to handle when you consistently make correct moves and get shot down, and you're stuck watching your bankroll dwindle. I'm waiting for my steady increase to come from correct play, you know?

p.s. sorry for all this complaining. Like I said, its getting to me more than ever.

[fjuanl]

Sometimes it is completely correct to fold AK on the bubble (or earlier than that). The goal of SnG's is to get ITM. You 'play to win' in MTT's because the payout is much higher at the top...therefore worth risking all your chips if it gives you a greater chance at winning. (The first payout for large MTT's is something tiny like 2% of the prize pool. For SnG's, this is 20% of the prize pool.)

Since it is really rare to have to fold AK it is likely just variance, like you said.

Don't mistake my post as an argument for passive play on the bubble...winning players get their money by exploiting it. But there are certain situations where you just have to fold good hands (ie: two even stacked players get all in on the bubble and you have AK. Instafold)

[taipan168]

Sorry to hear that you've run bad. Since each hand is so situation dependent, post some example hands to get some feedback as to whether you played it right or wrong, that's the best way to learn.

[TLR]

AK is a very good hand but it is not an 'automatic' reraising/AI hand, there are a lot of situations it is correct to dump AK preflop

As tai said, post some hands, and read Chard's sticky about the value of AK if you havent done it already

[bonaparte]

Sorry to hear of the losing streak. I'm in a losing streak right now myself. Seems everything I do turns to crap. If you are new to SNG (like I am) I can understand it will be hard to keep your chin up until you go through a couple losing streaks and then come back, at least that had been my experience at other things. Once you get through a couple losing steaks and come back with a profit you will find it will get easier to put up with the bad as well as the good.

I think these guys on the board are right, though, about reviewing hand histories. I know I'm going to try to make a daily habit of reading the posts here to try to learn what I can until my confidence is at the proper place and I know that most of my leaks are fixed.

[HXMpriest]

Ýou should push with AK when you have enough fold equity.
The decision for your opponent to call has to be a tough one.
It's also a good thing to push against loose opponents, cause they are likely to have a weaker ace or a hand like KJ, which will make them fold or a big underdog.

[Im_new]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure you'll see some 'AK gone wild' hands posted soon lol.