AA Meeting

Okay, time for an AA meeting. No, I’m talking about pocket aces, not Alcoholics Anonymous (although I see far too many people play aces like they’ve had too much to drink, and that’s the purpose of this article).

I find it interesting that even mediocre players know to proceed with caution with hands like A-K or Q-Q, but deal an otherwise solid player aces, and they seem to think they have an automatic double or triple-up coming. Next to A-K, I believe A-A is the most misplayed hand in hold ‘em. It is, of course, the best possible hand pre-flop. Nothing more, nothing less. After the flop, you should proceed as carefully as if you had 8-8. I think that poker on TV has a lot to do with players getting starry-eyed upon being dealt aces. Listen to Mike or Vince’s obligatory “There they are: American Airlines, The Big Kahunas, Pocket Rockets, Weapons of Mass Destruction, blah, blah, blah…” and it’s easy to forget just how beatable they really are.

Tight players and loose players alike are susceptible to their charms. Hell, many loose players think their Kh-8h is a good hand (hey, it’s suited, right?), so when they get dealt two red aces, they’ll beat the other guy in the pot when he goes all-in on a flop of 9s-10s-Js, then complain to their buddies the rest of the night about the “bad beat” they took. Many tight players routinely throw away hands like A-10os, or Kc-Jc, biding their time waiting for ultra-premium hands. When they finally do get a hand like A-A, it’s tough for them to lay it down after the flop, even if they suspect it’s not the best hand anymore. Mentally, they’ve already decided they’re “going down” with it.

This brings us to the different types of “bullet-buster” hands:

• Suited Connectors – Four different ways to beat aces: trips, two pair, straight, flush. On a side note: I like to play these hands whenever I can get in relatively cheaply. Sometimes I’ll play them even if it’s a fairly large raise, if I put my opponent on a large pocket pair, and he’s the type of person that I think I can bust if I flop to it. I must admit to getting a special charge out of hearing the ensuing whining (“How can you call my raise with that s**t?!”), as they push their entire stack of chips my way. Do they really think I called because I thought my 6h-7h was good pre-flop?!
• Connectors – Three different ways to beat aces: trips, two pair, straight.
• Suited Cards – Three different ways to beat aces: trips, two pair, flush.
• Pocket Pair – Only two outs, of course, but if the set comes it’s probably getting paid.
• Random Cards – Two different ways to beat aces: trips, two pair.

Note that I did not include four-card straights or flushes in the possible hands.


Which brings us to the various ways to play aces:

1) Bet and raise pre-flop
Most pros will tell you that this straightforward method will make you the most money in the long run. A nice healthy opening bet or raise will get most of the speculative hands out. You’d like a little action, of course, but don’t be too disappointed if you just pick up the blinds. If you get a caller or two, the flop (along with knowledge of your opponents) will greatly dictate how the hand plays out.

2) Limp with the intent of re-raising pre-flop
This can be a nice strategy, but it comes with a few caveats. First, you need someone else to cooperate by raising behind you. If nobody raises, and instead you get several more limpers, proceed with extreme caution and be prepared to dump the hand! Second, this play tips off the strength of your hand. You’ll most likely pick up the pot then and there, and if someone calls and gives you action after the flop, there’s a good chance you’re beat (after all, they know what you probably have, but you don’t know what they have). Third, if you’re going to raise, then RAISE! Don’t throw out some silly min-raise to build a pot, because I promise you that people will be coming in from the street to call, and someone (but probably not you) will be raking in a nice pot. Lastly, this play should be used as part of a balanced arsenal. Don’t overuse this, or any other play. Predictability does not make for a good poker player.

3) Limp to get as many people in the pot as possible
Clearly an amateur move, and the worst way to play a strong hand. Aces are favored against any other hand, but are an underdog to almost any two hands combined. Ideally you want to get someone heads up. You may very well end up against two or more players, but you need to at least charge them for the privilege.

4) Smooth-call a pre-flop raise
This can be a great move in certain short-handed situations, but can be extremely dangerous at a full table. Again, you want to play aces against one player if possible, so I believe you're better off in the long run by putting in a raise to try and isolate, and dissuade other players behind you from calling. Smooth-calling in early or middle position just gives players in late position (as well as the blinds) good odds to call with their speculative hands. Do you really want to see a flop with aces in middle position, along with three, four, or more other players? I didn't think so.


Anyone that’s been around poker for a while has heard the saying: “Aces win the small pots and lose the big pots.” Good players, however, know that this does not need to be the case. Aces are simply another good starting hand. If you feel like they’re beat at some point during the hand, just throw them in the muck! Nobody needs to know you had aces. And yes, sometimes you’ll make a bad read and lay down the best hand. And no, it won’t be the end of the world if you do. You’ll see hundreds of hands during a long session, so resist the temptation to fall in love with any one or two of them.

Once you learn to treat A-A with the respect it deserves, I think you’ll see a noticeable improvement in your game.

See ya at the tables!
Rick