Why do we steal with Axs?
 

I'm a TAG live player. I'll start playing online more soon, but for now, I don't have pokertracker analyzing my every move, so this is a pretty basic preflop question?

In every poker book, I've ever read, I've been encouraged to raise preflop in MP or LP with a weak suited ace preflop if I'm the first to open the pot. I've done this blindly for years, but I'm starting to wonder why I'm doing it.

Heads up, a suited ace is about 3% better than an unsuited ace againist a random hand. If it's +EV to make this raise with Axs, then shouldn't it be almost as good a play with Axo?

Is the 5.77% of the time when we actually make the flush (thank you Mike Caro) really that big a difference? If not, then why aren't we making the same steal with Axo?

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

from the books that i have read it makes a pretty big difference because of the flush draw possibilities. That way you can semi-bluff more and get monies when it hits.

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

i do steal with Axo from LP. i steal with all sorts of hands from CO and BTN, im delighted if i get to open with Ax rather than the usual trash!

if im first in the pot i always raise, whether it be Axs, Axo, paint, SCs, PP....

but for postflop, Axs suited plays better if we have position, gives us more options than Axo if we hit the right kinda flop

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

Okay, if it's the flush draw possibility, you'll flop two or more of your suit 11.79% of time. That still seems small to me.

By comparision, you are as likely to flop a set with a pocket pair as you are to flop a flush draw with two suited cards.

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

we raise PP's so that if we flop a set we can get all the money in more easily.... is it ~13% for flopping a set with a PP? thats not too far off the chance of flopping a FD with Axs.... could one suggest that the idea is the similar?

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

I just tried to clean NotFreeMonies bug off the screen.... levelled.

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

[ QUOTE ]
we raise PP's so that if we flop a set we can get all the money in more easily.... is it ~13% for flopping a set with a PP? thats not too far off the chance of flopping a FD with Axs.... could one suggest that the idea is the similar?

[/ QUOTE ]

given the percentages - and i'm no math major - flopping a set is more likely to stack a player than flopping the fd. with the set you have the made hand to go to war with. a fd??? you still have to hit. i'd rather shove with the set than a draw, though i've done both.

EN

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

preflop equity in once-raised pots is pretty meaningless in NL in this context

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just tried to clean NotFreeMonies bug off the screen.... levelled.

[/ QUOTE ]

me too....

[ QUOTE ]
flopping a set is more likely to stack a player than flopping the fd. with the set you have the made hand to go to war with. a fd??? you still have to hit.

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very true, but with NFD you still want to play a big pot... or i do anyway...

Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
 

[ QUOTE ]
very true, but with NFD you still want to play a big pot... or i do anyway...

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agreed... i guess my point was with the percentages of hitting the set, your work is done. with the same percentages of flopping a DRAW as you said... you still have work to do... and cards to catch.

but yeah, if you get the nfd go for it.

EN