Re: Why do we steal with Axs?
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First of all, I don't know how the set vs Axs debate got going. The question was why do we raise it, and the answer is the same for both. FWIW I prefer a PP, but whatever.
We raise hands like Ax because playing a pot in position against the blinds is a good spot to be in.
You are absolutely right that 72o can play out the same if we are just folding people out, and that is why good players are very loose and aggressive from the CO and BTN.
We play Ax more than 72o b/c we are more likely to make the best hand, and we can't expect to fold out the blinds every time.
We play Axs b/c it is slightly better than Axo
We play PP b/c they are often the best hand to start and flopping a set will almost ensure they are the best hand.
One more small thing is that having an A in your hand doesn't just mean that you have a strong hand, it means the blinds are slightly less likely to have an A themselves, and therefore be slightly less likely to have a hand they can call a raise with
You are correct in stating many of the points (such as Axs vs Axo) are small differences, but poker is about getting as many small edges as you can.
I remember a high stakes limit player saying he won about 55%. He was rich b/c of that 55/45 edge.
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THANK YOU!!! Great post.
I keep on getting off track in this thread, so I'll try to rephrase my original question by addressing some good points that this post brought up.
My basic point is this: Axs is most valuable when it's in a multiway pot. This is because (like all drawing hands) it usually misses, but when it hits, it is so powerful that the number of opponents it's againist doesn't matter as much. The nuts will beat 10 limpers just as easily as it will beat 1 person heads up.
This is why it's usually best to limp with drawing hands. You want as many opponents as possible so that you are getting equity on a low percentage investment that pays off rarely, but very well when it does.
The whole point of my thread originally was this: When you play Axs heads-up, you are basically turning it into Axo. Yes, it still might make a good draw, but because you are heads-up, now you have to begin thinking about playing it for it's high card value rather than it's drawing power.
In a multiway pot, I have no problem playing A3s and folding againist action if all I flop as an ace.
Heads up, you can't always muck if you flop top pair. Your initial preflop investment makes up too much of the pot to give up so easily.
Yes, it is possible to make a big draw, but the chances that you will make this draw at the same time that the villian will make a hand willing to pay you off are so small, that's not worth considering.
I'm perfectly fine with saying that's okay to steal with Axs, but not because of the nut flush draw. in a heads-up pot, the difference between Axs and Axo is almost nothing.
If we are stealing with Axs, we should probably be stealing with Axo, too.
Does that make more sense?
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