Quote:
Originally Posted by wisem2540
I understand that this is just "how the game is played". I guess I am not making my point clear. Lets say I have a 2:1 chip lead over someone, and they push all in. I am holding AK.
What I struggle with is risking half my stack on essentially a coin flip. At the very best, I am dominating AQ, but any other scenario, its really 50/50. So while, in a vacuum, AK is a fine hand. And if I win, its a nice increase to my stack. It just seems super risky to play half my stack blind.
So it leaves me wondering if all of this preflop aggression turns poker is more of a Bingo game than it has to be
Again, it depends on how we get there also, and often by that point we are getting a great price on the "50/50". If you can get 1.7 to 1 on 50/50s for the rest of your life, you will be very rich.
Sometimes, you should fold AK. I played a $365 where a guy shoved 40 blinds over two limpers. Folds to me and I had AK. I was sure he would never have AQ, so he always has AK or a pocket pair, most likely IMO JJ or QQ. I folded, since it didn't make sense to call off with AK getting almost exactly 1:1. He actually showed AA after everyone folded.
Depending on the situation, though, you may be way overrating your opponents range to think you are 50/50 with AK. AK is 53/47 fave over AJ+, 88+. Opponents are often restealing much wider than that. Things like position, stacks, and opponent tendencies should be used to create a range, then compare your hand to that range, evaluating the price you are being offered.