Typically when we're short on chips and getting desperate in a cash or free poker online tourney we start to look for an Ace-something and move all in and hope! A lot of players will go for it with AK, AQ, in some cases even as low as A4.
At worst, if someone with A-4 is called with the medium Pair, there is still one overcard. With A-K you can be called by Ace-lower whilst still being be a significant favorite.
So players running out of chips have a tendency to wait for Ace-something before they move all-in. While the Ace element gives them assurance, the likelihood is that someone will call them with Ace-higher and make them a significant underdog. Furthermore, if the purpose is to move all-in, why not try the same move with King-something (preferably suited)?
The trend for tournament players today has altered slightly in favor of moving all-in with King-something, like K-Q, K-J, K-10 (needless to say, the applications here apply also to A-K) and even K-x suited. Other players will also call using a smaller pocket Pair, and so A-x has the same possibility of winning as K-x against a smaller Pair if both cards are overcards.
And K-x has an additional benefit. While a hand like A-5 is a major underdog against A-J, K-Q or K-5 is just a slight underdog.
Approximately, it is a 13 to 7 underdog, but match it up to A-5 which is a 15 to 5 (or 3-1) underdog. What you want to fetch with K-x is its live card value.
While using A-5, you have to hit the Five in order to pair and take the lead. With K-5, you may have both King and Five pairing.
Should you extend your all-in hand range to include K-x, you might have to move all-in more than ever before. Because many players will fold to an all-in (including marginal high A-x for example A-10 or A-9) other players at the table will receive a more aggressive impression of your play.
Additionally you can steal the blinds more often. The all-in itself (and not really the cards used to move all-in) is an indication of strength; it's the same with A-x or K-x.
All in all, if you're running out of chips and the all in approach beckons don't limit yourself to just Ace-x, think about the King too, it might just make your day!
So why not check out the King High approach on the free online poker tables first, get used to it and then apply in more high risk poker games later.
Hopefully this was interesting and helps your poker game be it free online poker or for cash. Certainly it will demonstrate that in a given poker game situation there are options to consider based on the cards you've got, the game stage, opposition and known and estimated risk to name but a few.
If you're not used to this approach then undoubtedly the best way to succeed is always to practice a LOT on free online poker sites such as http://www.NoPayPOKER.com and ONLY when you are winning consistently move up to actual money stakes.
On NoPayPOKER.com you'll play genuine free online poker where you absolutely, 100% literally can not lose any money ever no matter how bad you play! Practice to your hearts content and lose all you like, you can always just join the next freeroll after all!
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