A 3 and cold calling the PF raise
 

So I can finally beat .25/.5, 0.5/1, and 1/2 LO8 games. But I may have a leak dealing with PF raises and the A3 hand

To avoid a bad leak, I just don't cold call a double bet PF. (If I've called first then was raised, I obviously call the raise).

I'm tempted to cold call with an A3 suited. And very tempted to cold call with a A3w suited.

If the raiser is a solid player, I'm fairly sure he's either got AAw or A23/A24. So my instinct is to fold A3s. What is your take on this?

If its a fish, I'll call with A3w suited. But not with A3 suited unless I'm LP.

So assume your playing in a L08 1/2 game. What is your recommendation to me?

Re: A 3 and cold calling the PF raise
 

Hi Grandma - Two things.

(1) There is a big difference in hands containing a suited ace-trey.
A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img],5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] is a much stronger hand than A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img],8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

And A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img],8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] is a stronger hand than A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

You need to somehow account for the other cards in the hand, not just the suited ace-trey combination.

(2) There is a big difference in the way individuals play. Some raise before the flop with better hands than A3sXY while others raise before the flop with worse hands.

Do you really want to be folding A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img],K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] to a raise from someone raising with 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img],3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img],5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img],Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]?

You need to somehow account for differences in the way your opponents play.

Recognizing there is a difference in the way you play suited-ace-trey-X-Y hands under different circumstances is a good start.

The next step is a bigger one. (Probably better if you think of it as two steps). You will improve your play if you neither lump all suited-ace-three-X-Y hands together nor lump all opponents making pre-flop raises together.

Buzz

Re: A 3 and cold calling the PF raise
 

i dont find that hand to be that profitable,i like playing a34 with ace suited or better to small raises,still dont know if it is profitable or not.