The Value of Suited Aces in NL Hold 'Em

[Moniker]

The most tempting hand for me to play in MP to LP is a suited Ace (for this discussion I'm talking about when my other card is 10 or lower). I know that Ace-rag is a horrible trap hand and that the probability of making the flush is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6% but it is such a tempting hand and can make such a monstrous pot. I typically limp with my suited Ace and fold to an appreciable raise.

How frequently and in what position should I play the suited Ace? Always limp pre-flop? Any general guidance for pre-flop strategy would be appreciated.

[mliew]

Suited Ace-rag can be played from any position but obviously your goal with is to see the flop for as cheap as possible. The problem with limping with the Ace-rag is that you're inviting someone to raise behind you or from the blinds in which case you're gonna have to fold. I like to mix it up by sometimes minraising in hopes that I will discourage those behind me from raising since nobody has shown any aggression. Of course if someone open raises in front of you or reraises behind you then you muck.

[ohnonotthat]

If your opponents call big bets far more often than they should you can play Ax/s but play it for the minimum.

If your opponents fold to big bets far more often than they should you can play (obviously your approach to the hand will be opposite of above).

If your opponents play reasonably well these hands have little value anywhere other than on or near the button.

If you play extremely well relative to the opponents at any particular table you will give up almost nothing if you play alot of hands preflop for the minimum; it's post-flop where these [questionable] hands get expensive.

- Others can give you much more detailed advice; this was an "in case nobody else responds" answer.

[deadeyed1]

I would play the small suited ace only when it is cheap to see the flop in comparison to my stack and when i am in late position in an unraised pot. If you limp in from early position you frequently face a raise from the button or cut off point and then have to fold. Also, remember, you don't really want to hit the ace, you will get into trouble. Remember why you entered the pot in the first place.

[AA Suited]

"The Value of Suited Aces in NL Hold 'Em"

You rang?

[pmdvert18]

Lets just say that you play Ax suited from any postion and that you are willing to call small raises (min or 2 time the BB). At that point you have to think your A is no good if it hits and now the goal is to essentially hit a 3-outer to make 2 pair. If its the flush you are after then like you said before it doesnt hit enough to make it worth it.

I like playing Ax suited in late position for cheap or when in a 10 max table with a raise and a few callers in front of me, other than that throw it away.

The times you do fold, pay attention to the hand and see how many times you think you would have won with best hand or taken it down with a large bet.

[elmitchbo]

suited aces are GOOD hands. i always here people say that you shouldn't play them, or if you do then you have to always fear a better ace. i disagree on both points.

a brief quiz from the EV charts...which hand has more EV preflop?

A9s or 99?
A4s or 44?
ATs 0r QJs?
ATs or T9s?
A5s or 66?
ATs or AQo?
A4s or 87s?


i hope you picked the suited ace everytime. suited aces are the 3rd best type of starting hand behind big pairs and big broadway cards. they're better hands than almost all small to medium pairs and almost all suited connectors.

if you are going to play any style other than an absolute rock 'i only raise with AA and KK' type of poker you need to play suited Aces.

i say play and occasionally raise with them from MP and LP, and call a decent raise if you limp. if an ace comes on the flop don't be afraid to bet out with no kicker.... aces don't grow on trees, so if you weren't reraised before the flop there is no reason to think you're beat.

the dailt pursuit of LAG mastery.
[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[binions]

I prefer A5-A2 suited to A6-A9 in earlier positions. The "bet-ability" of A5-A2 suited is better - ie flopping a flush draw + overcard or gutshot + overcard + backdoor flush draw or gutshot + flush draw, etc.

[Komodo]

Axs is a very good hand. Lets say flop comes AT5. two of your suits. Youre only a small underdog to AK here and can theredore bet hard on that flop. Turn card is the third of your flush. Many opponents have a hard time to put you on a flush here, since it looked like you tried to protect against it on the flop.

[knife420]

you can limp or raise in late position, but playing the hand before then more often than not result in a raise or reraise that u can not ever comfortably call, if other people play poorly preflop and postflop as well u might be able to play them early, but my experience is that attempting to play them from early position is just leaking money