MotorCity Mafia

There is a reason Amarillo Slim refers to Big Slick (A-K) as Big Broke. The hand sucks.

For the last two sessions, a majority of players at the table bet big pre-flop with A-K.

I don’t get it.

Most times, they lost their money.

I can’t remember the last time I made money with A-K.

In fact, I have lost more money with A-K than any other hand. Like the time I had A-K and flopped top two pair only to lose to someone with pocket aces.

As long as players (usually tournament players) keep pushing hard with A-K, I will keep making money.

For example, last night, I have Q-Q and raise pre-flop.

Some tournament-playing donkey goes all-in pre-flop with A-K. I insta-call.

The board comes all numbers and Big Slick went Big Broke.

Calling off all your chips with Ace high? Suited or not suited, A-K is simply not a profitable hand in cash games.

Don’t even get me started on A-Q or A-J.

I am not a big fan of A-K. Suited. Off-suit. Late position. Any position.

Big slick is simply over-rated for cash games.

That said, I get A-K off while being one-off the button.

With a bunch of limpers in the pot, I raise pre-flop to $25.

I get three callers.

The flop comes As-Kc-10c.

Now what?

With a potential straight, flush draw, royal flush draw, $100 in the pot, and two players checking to me, I bet out $50.

The button calls and everyone folds.

I put him on either a flush draw or straight draw.

Why?

I have found that the casual player can’t help themselves but to raise the nuts. For whatever reason, they cannot simply smooth call anything.

If the button flopped the nuts, I know he would have raised me.

The turn is another club. Fortunately for me, it is the ace of clubs.

I just went from Big Slick to Big Boat.

First to act, I bet $50 into the $200 pot.

The button calls.

The river is a blank, so I bet $30 into the $300 pot.

The button folds my value bet and I take down the pot.