[lork]

For moving all-in with a shortstack, do you like AK or JJ?

For calling the all-in OF a shortstack, do you prefer AK or JJ?

[johnf]

JJ its always a better hand then AK

if im heads up with someone ill take 22 over AK in an all in before the flop.

you have to play your advantages. AK may look pretty, but 2-2 is the better hand.

if you are up against an overpair and you know that you shouldn't call with any of these hands since you wont be able to use any postflop play to push them out

[chris]

Don't give me the old 22 argument, no one in their right mind would ever call an all-in with 22, and a bunch of people would, situationally, with AK.

Even T9 suited is a favorite to win over 22.

[ballen]

JJ is better in both cases because it wins unimproved.. I'd go all in short stacked with AK though.. I'd call the short stack as long as it's less than 30-40% of my chips with AK, JJ I might risk half my stack to call him.. it depends on my read of the player at the time I make the decision.

If you have 5000 chips, and the guy goes all in for 700, and your dealt 22.. your not going to call him? If the blinds are high, he's looking to double up quickly.. probably has Ax.. You have to take a stab.. especially if you are in any of the blinds.. if they are 200/400 you wouldn't call 300 or 500 chips with 22? thats overly tight if you are the big stack..

Bottom line.. In this situation 22 wins unimproved.. AK doesn't.. It depends on how many chips the guy has and you have whether it's the proper call or not. I'd say the 22 is worth probably 10-25% of your stack at most to call, but I would call with AK for more though..

[norshvind]

I was referring to a more sizeable all-in, if I didn't make that clear. But no, I would not call an all-in for 1/4 my stack with deuces.

To add to this, with 22 you are at best looking at a 55-50% chance of winning. With AK you're only truly fearing two hands, which you can often be smart enough to detect and then fold. Any pair dominates 22, not AK. You can't be dominating anyone with 22 and you can be dominating people with AK.

[johnf]

can I see where you got the numbers that 9-10 is favored over 2-2?

and yes I would call a sizeable all in with 2-2, I've done it many times. If the player who is pushing is known to do so with high cards im calling. if he is the type that strictly pushes with PPs then I'm not.

yes any over pair dominates 2-2, and yes there are onyl 2 hands that completely DOMINATE A-K. But you have to play the players also. You can't just play the cards. If a guy went all in with A-K I WILL call with my 2s. He has only 6 outs and is in need of improvement. There is no way you should ever want to be on the A-K side of that hand before the flop.

I don't have anymore to say, I'm still hung up on the fact that you think 9-10 is a statistically better hand then the ducks

[crazypete]

heads up
9-10 diamonds 53.8% 2-2 non diamonds 46.2%
9-10 diamonds 53.7% 2-2 with diamond 46.3%
9-10 not sharing any suits with 2-2 50.9% 49.1%
9-10 sharing 1 suit with 2-2 51.5% 48.5%
9-10 sharing both suits with 2-2 52.1% 47.9%

3-4 suited 49.7%(if sharing suit with 2-2 49.6%)

[jhasper]

johnf, you're wrong. Two overcard suited connectors that can make the full range of straights (i.e. not AK) are favourite over an underpair...and the smaller the pair, the bigger the favourite.

[johnf]

I just checked, I stand corrected and I apolagize for my mistake 2-2 is ONLY favored in certain situations if the overcards are off suit.

But to be totally honest, underdog or not I would still take a made pair over a hand that needs improvement.

but I apolagize for my criticism

[jhasper]

If you would rather hold 22 than 10 9 suited, you are a bad player. There is no other conclusion. If you don't play the math, in the long run you die.