Big slick, Big slick....sounds quite appitizing doesn't it? To start off, I fully agree with you that it can be a great hand, yet also devestating at times. AK suddenly gains enormous value when you can knock out all but one opponent before going to flop (be sure to be cautious to your one opponents betting though as they may be holding AA or KK preflop). When playing in Pokerstars tournies, I have found certain pre-flop raise amounts that can knock out all but one caller about 80% of the time, which is a decent percentage if I say so myself. Near the beginning of tournies, if the blinds are 15/30 and I want all but one or maybe two ppl out, I will raise to 180 (150 chip raise) because 150 is high enough to knock out all all bad and even mediocre hands but keep in people who like their hand. When blinds are 100/200, raising to 700 (500 chip raise) will typically do the same thing as well.
Now it does not work 100% of the time but does most the time and if more people end up calling and you make a huge flop it just means more money for you. When it comes to AK, i will change up my strategy based onthe number or peopleleft at my table. If there is a full table, I will want to knock out all but one person usually. Yet when it gets down to 4 handed I will do different things. If my opponents have been playing relatively loose, I will bet really high, knocking out all or all but one caller because even if all players fold, the blinds should behigh enough by 3 or 4 handed to be happy with my pot. If my opponents have been playing tight I will slightly raise BB with AK and then bet high after flop no matter what (if they reraise me i will fold because they have been playing tightly), and show my AK. Doing this a couple times and showing my good hands will tell them that I am raising legitimately and then I can start bluffing with nothing.
AK can be a tricky hand to play but if you know how toread your opponents, it shouldn't be a devestating one. The best thing you can do for online play is study your opponents betting styles and know when you are beat. Focus on the hands other players are holding, not necessarily your own, and you will come out ahead.
Yappy.
"A good player knows when his opponent has the winning hand, A great player can get that opponent to lay it down..." | 
