Quick answer
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AKs by the numbers
- vs 1 random hand
- 67%
- all-in equity
- vs 5 random hands
- 31%
- full 6-max table
- Flop a pair or better
- 32.4%
- pairing a hole card
- Flop a flush draw
- 10.9%
- flush 0.84%
How to play AKs by position
6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.
- Early position (UTG)
- Open-raise. Ace-king suited is strong enough to play for stacks.
- Middle position (hijack)
- Open-raise, or 3-bet if someone has opened.
- Late position (cutoff, button)
- Open-raise or 3-bet. In position, ace-king plays very well after the flop.
- Blinds
- Raise when folded to and 3-bet against opens.
- Facing a raise
- 3-bet every time. Facing a 4-bet at 100bb, continuing is standard, and it is a strong hand to get all-in with because the ace and king block aces and kings.
After the flop
- An unpaired hand flops at least a pair with one of its hole cards about 32.4% of the time, so ace-king misses the flop most of the time.
- Continuation-bet often on boards that favour your range, such as A-high or K-high flops, and when you hold a flush draw.
- Suited hands flop a flush draw about 10.9% of the time, adding extra equity when you miss.
AKs against common hands
Ace-king suited wins only 11.5% against AA, with ties 1.3% of the time. It wins 46% against QQ, a near coin flip, and 73.4% against AQo, where it dominates the weaker kicker.
| Against | AKs wins | Tie | AKs loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-A | 11.5% | 1.3% | 87.2% |
| Q-Q | 46% | 0.4% | 53.6% |
| A-Q offsuit | 73.4% | 4.4% | 22.2% |
All-in before the flop, exact results from every possible board. Suits as dealt in our example; figures shift slightly with other suit combinations.
What AKs makes by the river
If you see all five board cards, your best five-card hand ends up as each of these this often. Exact figures from every possible board.
- Straight flush0.05%
- Four of a kind0.1%
- Full house2.2%
- Flush6.5%
- Straight3.1%
- Three of a kind4.3%
- Two pair22.1%
- One pair43.3%
- High card18.2%
Common mistakes with AKs
- Calling down with ace-high after missing the flop.
- Flat-calling raises instead of 3-betting.
- Overvaluing top pair after a lot of action on wet boards.
Where AKs sits in the chart
Suited hands above the diagonal, offsuit below, pairs on it. Number = equity against one random hand. A white dot means the hand has a full guide.
Ace-king suited FAQ
Is AK suited better than QQ?
All-in before the flop, queens are a slight favourite. But ace-king plays better in many spots because it blocks aces and kings and can make the nut flush.
How often will I be dealt ace-king suited?
A specific suited hand such as AKs has 4 combinations, about 0.30% of deals.
How do I play AKs with a short stack in a tournament?
With 15bb or less, push or call all-ins in nearly every situation. It is one of the best push-fold hands.