In my experience, when someone open-pushes all-in, it usually means 77-QQ, or AJ-AK. But be careful there - a very small minority play a pure push-botting game where anytime they pick up KK or AA they push all-in.

Early on in a SNG, lacking a strong read, I'd fold AK everytime. Early on it's just not worth the risk to be calling off your entire stack pre-flop with worse than KK (unless you're already ridiculously short-stacked).

Early on facing an all in, I'll fold it. There's a small chance you're way behind and a very good chance you're a race at best. Why risk it?

If you have a good read on your opponent and he does this with way too many hands and it's later in the tourney that's a reasonable calling situation.

Pushing with AK might be marginally better than calling a big bet. AK does better when it gets to see all 5 cards and if you just call a big bet and miss the flop, you're probably folding to any reasonable action.

Hi,

I think AK is very easy to play early on. Calling an all in early with AK is gambling. If you wanna do it then you are a gambler with the odds not in your favor.

If you are first to act I always ( almost always ) make it 3 to 4 BB. If we are at the 15-30 limit I tend to make it around $100 to go. I have found this to be the best raise to get information from. If I get callers I can almost be sure to be ahead when an A or K comes. If I get unlucky and someone has found his trips, they either let me know or suck me in....so be it. But most of the times you get a descent pot.
If they reraise my bet preflop I can still easily get away from the hand because it was not that big of an investment ( I play 1500 startchips).

Later on it is somewhat different but thats for later.

Tommyhawk

with no read FOLD....basically a coin flip to a mid pair - not worth it...and a slight fav over donkey hands like QJ and such...I doubt they have KK or AA and yes you are dominating AQ and AJ but I wait for a better spot...remember you are better and would like to build the pot some preflop with better hands and then proceed when more info. is present on the board. You will have ample opps. to get coin flip when it is 5 handed so if that is your game, wait til then and that will make or break your SnG.

now if you have a read, (jackal very active and betting like everything), make a call if they are suited and let him shoe you that QTs...I still don't call offsuit though...I just feel I can pick this guy off later.