The Ace King debate

[Zybomb]

I'm hoping this thread can start some good discussion with points for both sides

(usually how I start a thread that receives 3 replies, one by myself, but whatever)

When in Vegas and I was sitting cash with TP, the table got into a discussion over the dreaded (?) AK hand. This stemmed off of TP telling his 'big hit' story from the ME (incidently with AK)

If you are facing a raise in front of you (from a middle of the road player as far as tightness and looseness go) do you reraise or just call with AK

I generally mix it up in a 60%/40% or so ratio of reraises and calls. A player sitting down with us, who was most involved with the discussion, took the position that TP made a big mistake by not reraising with AK in this WSOP hand. I didn't think it was a mistake, as I just said I like a 60%/40% mix.

Im going to list the pluses and minuses of each here. When responding with your preference, please indicate because of which one of these reasons is the biggest factor , or add another reason not listed.

Reraising:

- You define your hand preflop

- You take control of the betting once the flop hits and give yourself a better chance to scoop the pot even if you miss. You'll miss the flop 66% of the time with AK, if you just call and your opponent CBs, now what? Check/fold?

- You will likely get your opponent to fold several even shots. If not, they may fold the best hand on the flop to you (either because they put you on a bigger hand, or because a scare card dropped)

Just Calling the Raise:

- You keep the pot smaller, with a "drawing hand"

- Ace King, while a monster starting hand, is still a "top pair" hand, and thus it is unlikely you will win a huge pot with it. More likely you'll lose one. Like the first point said, you keep the pot smaller

- If you reraise, what types of hands will fold? AJ AT KQ KJ KT! these are all hands that you WANT in the pot, because you have them dominated... it is your only way of potentially winning a big pot with this "top pair" hand (AK)


So with that said, what's YOUR take on the situation and how do you play it and for what reasons (listed or not listed?)