Playing AK is one of the most common mistakes players make in hold’em. We wait so long for good cards that once big slick shows up we treat it like we have pocket aces. Now don’t get me wrong, big slick is a good hand, but if you’re up against a pocket pair you are a slight dog to win, and a bigger dog if it’s aces or kings.

Deciding how to play big slick against a raise depends on the circumstances of the raise. If it comes from a player in late position, after there have been no other raises, you may very well be up against AQ or AJ and be in really good shape. If it comes from a player in an early position, it usually means a small or medium pocket pair, and depending on your position, it may be wise to fold your big slick.