Winning with Ace Kings in Hand

In no-limit Holdem tournaments, some players get over-confident when dealt an Ace King, one of the best drawing hands. Trouble ensues when a player gets a call but misses the flop, because the flop contains neither an Ace nor a King. Moments like this have players wondering what to do when flops are missed with Ace Kings in hand.

Understanding an Ace King

The first thing to understand is that Ace Kings are drawing hands, which must be improved upon to have more than a single pair. Additionally, you must understand that pair-ups on flops only occur about 1/3rd of the time and that other flops yield no improvements. The most important thing to know, however, is when to move all in on the flop, because timing is everything in a no-limit game.

Handling Bets and Flops

The best way to handle flops is to get a sense of your opponents and determine the best time to fold. A continuation bet is the best play to make when you have 1 or 2 opponents against your flop. If you have more than 2 opponents, however, it is much wiser to fold, regardless of whether an opponent bets into your flop. The only exception to the rule is when the pot odds are right for playing a drawing hand. A straight-draw flop, for instance, might leave you with certain cards that could make you a winner.

If you rise to a high pre-flop level, you might find yourself committed to a pot, regardless of the cards. Under these circumstances, you should move in on the flop with all the chips that you've raised. Play your Ace-Kings shrewdly, but always remember the right times to either fold or move in on the flop.