Are You Playing Ace-King Like a GTO Wizard?
Peeling back your hole cards to reveal an ace and a king can be a rollercoaster moment for any poker player. On one hand, there’s the rush of excitementBig Slick is a premium hand with the potential to dominate the table. On the other, there’s a flicker of unease as memories of busted tournaments and bad beats resurface like unwelcome ghosts.
Ace-King is one of the most debated hands in poker, celebrated for its power yet notorious for its pitfalls. It’s the hand that makes players across all stakes ask the same burning question: “How do you play Ace-King?”
If you’ve ever found yourself puzzled by the complexities of Big Slick, don’t worryyoure not alone. In this guide, GTO Wizard breaks down the key strategies for mastering one of poker’s most dynamic and polarizing hands.
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Common Issues with Ace-King in MTT’s
Ace-King might be a premium hand, but it’s far from foolproof. Even experienced players can misstep with Big Slick, especially n the high-pressure environment of multi-table tournaments (MTTs).
Mismanaging this hand can quickly turn a strong starting position into a costly mistake. The below points highlight some of the most common pitfalls players encounter when navigating Ace-King in MTTs:
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Raising First in (RFI) with Ace-King
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When you’re hovering around the 20-big-blind mark, its tempting to shove preflop with Ace-King and let fate decide. But while this aggressive move might seem straightforward, its often not the most profitable play. Understanding the nuances of how to approach this stack depth can make all the difference.
For Ace-King offsuit, solvers suggest a more calculated approach. With stacks of 1720 big blinds, the preferred play across all positions is to make a standard raise. In later positions and the small blind, mixing in some limps can also be optimal. Even when facing a limp from the big blind, hands like AK should mostly stick to raising instead of shoving.
Its not until youre down to around 14 big blinds that open-shoving becomes the go-to strategy. At this stack depth, jamming Ace-King strengthens the EV of your shoving range, supporting hands like suited Broadway cards and weaker aces that rely on fold equity to remain profitable.
The chart above outlines the raise-first-in (RFI) strategy for Ace-King suited, and it highlights just how differently this premium hand plays compared to its offsuit counterpart. Unlike Ace-King offsuit, the solver avoids shoving Ace-King suited at the 1720 big blind mark, favoring a mix of raises and limps instead. Even at 1214 big blinds, all-in moves are off the table, with more emphasis on limping.
Why the hesitation to shove? Ace-King suiteds strong post-flop playability allows you to realize its potential without prematurely scaring off opponents. By keeping weaker hands in the pot, you maximize your ability to extract value.
However, once youre down to a 10-big-blind stack, its time to push all your chips into the middle with a hand like AK. At this depth, shoving becomes the most profitable option, capitalizing on fold equity and ensuring you get the most out of your powerhouse hand.
Ace-King When Facing a Three- or Four-Bet
Mastering Ace-King goes beyond preflop charts and standard plays. Its about adapting to deeper stack depths, handling aggression, and navigating tricky post-flop scenarios. Whether youre up against a three-bet, a four-bet, or just trying to make the most of Big Slick post-flop, understanding the right moves is key to maximizing your EV.
Ready to take your Ace-King game to the next level? Watch the video to dive deeper into advanced strategies, including how to handle deeper stacks, the best responses to three- and four-bets, and crucial post-flop insights that will sharpen your edge at the tables.
Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
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