AKs - 5.5 turbo

[Vice]

Seat 1: comedy-krab ($1,470 in chips)
Seat 2: roger.9483 ($1,480 in chips)
Seat 3: Joro Kangas ($1,480 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero ($1,480 in chips)
Seat 5: puude ($1,515 in chips)
Seat 6: MIIKLU1 ($1,380 in chips)
Seat 7: Tony747 ($1,470 in chips)
Seat 8: xxx5euro ($1,120 in chips)
Seat 9: Makaaberi ($2,150 in chips)
Seat 10: Tadachik-udi ($1,455 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
comedy-krab posts blind ($15), roger.9483 posts blind ($30).

PRE-FLOP
Joro Kangas folds, Hero bets $150, puude folds, MIIKLU1 calls $150, Tony747 folds, xxx5euro folds, Makaaberi folds, Tadachik-udi folds, comedy-krab folds, roger.9483 folds.

FLOP [board cards: QH,JD,5S ]
Hero checks, MIIKLU1 bets $100, Hero calls $100.

TURN [board cards: QH,JD,5S,7D ]
Hero checks, MIIKLU1 bets $100, Hero calls $100.

RIVER [board cards: QH,JD,5S,7D,4S ]
Hero checks, MIIKLU1 checks.

well, I have always wondered how to play AK in the early stages. Did I play that correctly? Probably I should have bet bigger on the flop?

[badgers]

Preflop, I would prefer a raise to 90-120.

On the flop I think you need to either cbet or c/f. I don't like calling the 100 bet, even with the odds we are getting. I would cbet this flop, since we have up to 10 outs.

On the turn you have to call.

River is fine.

[FlyingSaucy]

if you are going to check the flop you have to fold to a bet there. What are you hoping to hit that will improve your hand against opponents range? Hint, A or K might not do it.

[taipan168]

I agree with what badgers said. I would usually c-bet the flop in this spot.

[Shep]

I would definately make the continuation bet.
With just a check here, and your opponents bets, you can try the check raise, just to see where your opponents at.
Otherwise, just cut your losses.

[taipan168]

With just a check here, and your opponents bets, you can try the check raise, just to see where your opponents at.

I have said this many times, so sorry if this comes across as harsh. Betting/raising to see where your opponent is at is not a good reason to bet/raise. You bet because you either believe you have the best hand or that you can push your opponent off his hand. If you C-R the flop and opp calls, where are you at? Does opp have you crushed with a set or does he have a draw like KT? Does he have a weak hand like middle or bottom pair that still beats yours, or are you drawing dead to a set?

In this case I really do not like to C-R the flop because of the size of the pot. A C-R would have to be to 500 which means you have put in 40% of your stack with just a missed AK. I much prefer the c-bet here since we can c-bet 200 or so, saving us 300 chips if opp shoves over.