AA holding question

[55Darryl]

This question was asked in another poker forum.


Mike Matusow, Erik Lindgren, Phil Hellmuth, Michael Higgins, and Howard Lederer debated whether they would rather have AA pre-flop against 8 opponents or AK
heads up before the flop.

Which would you prefer?

Would you rather have AA with 8 other players seeing the flop with you?

Or would you rather have AK with only one other player seeing the flop with you?


RazzO

[HoldemPokerPlyr]

In my opinion I'd rather have AK vs one player preflop.

However, that's a weird question ask. Are you saying that I limped in with pocket Aces with the other 8 players?

-HoldemPokerPlyr

[steamraise]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you saying that I limped in with pocket Aces with the other 8 players?

-HoldemPokerPlyr

[/ QUOTE ]

You raise to two bets and get 8 callers.
I'll take the AK against one.

We have to wait half a day to vote?

[55Darryl]

[ QUOTE ]

We have to wait half a day to vote?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm very sorry about this. I keep making this error in my polls. Without thought I assume the default start time is in real time. In the future I will set the correct parameters so you don't have to return to vote. I came back to twoplustwo just now to post that I was sorry this happened. I realized it after I checked the post, but logged off after cussing myself. Heh.

Please, though, come back and cast your vote in this poll.

I to would rather play an opponent headup w/AK rather than battle 8 other players after the flop with AA.

Thanks.


RazzO [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[HoldemPokerPlyr]

BY the way, which ones of those pros wanted the first choice and which ones wanted the second choice?

-HoldemPokerPlyr

[55Darryl]

[ QUOTE ]
In my opinion I'd rather have AK vs one player preflop.

However, that's a weird question ask. Are you saying that I limped in with pocket Aces with the other 8 players?

-HoldemPokerPlyr

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't hear the discussion with these guys. But this is a very good point. I guess we can assume you are slow playing UTG (hoping for a raise, etc) and get 8 limpers.

Tell you what, I will try, in the next day or two, to get more details of their discussion. They know doubt brought this up. I can just picture The Mouth insisting he would never limp or slow play AA. LOL.


RazzO [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Siegmund]

Would I rather have ~35% of 8 people's money, or ~75% of 1 person's money? It seems like a no-brainer to me that the EV of the aces is vastly larger than the AK - I would guess at least double, even assuming most the limpers don't come along for the ride when they miss the flop when they don't have odds.

I can imagine that in certain contexts they might rather have a 75% chance than a 35% chance of advancing in a tournament, despite the large stack they would have if they won with AA ... but in a cash game I'd frankly be amazed to see AK get a single vote from the expert panel.

[pzhon]

AA is the clear winner if you like money. It's not close at all.

If you like pots, take the AK.

[alwaysburied]

I guess it depends how well you play. If you can't stand to lay down AA in the face of a couple raises, you're gonna lose a ton with that hand. AK vs. 1 player is certainly the less risky/lower variance hand.
-md
www.myspace.com/iambabyd

[pzhon]

[ QUOTE ]
I guess it depends how well you play.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have the opposite guess.

[ QUOTE ]

If you can't stand to lay down AA in the face of a couple raises, you're gonna lose a ton with that hand.

[/ QUOTE ]
If you never fold AA, you still won't lose with it in limit.

[ QUOTE ]
AK vs. 1 player is certainly the less risky/lower variance hand.

[/ QUOTE ]
Based on the PokerRoom data, I estimate that AK will win less than 0.4 BB on average, while AA will win over 4 BB on average. This difference in EV is far more important than the difference in variance.