Poker Question...What is the Best way to play a pair of Ace's with a weak kicker??

[Dante]

I always play weak hands like this conservatively. It's been my experience that in NL games the most money is made by betting aggressively with a few good hands rather than risking weak hands to win more pots. This also helpes me minimize loss during the weak hands.

great post Quant....thanks again all for the comments

 

[drunkguy]

Good reason for most people never to play A weak in a NL game. This very situation will come up countless times and since you have no idea where you are at chances are you will make mistakes.

I think playing hands with bad kickers is the reason why most online games remain relatively good at the lower limits. Players have stopped playing trash as much as they used to, but playing hands with weak kickers or any two suited cards remains the one leak you can exploit. The fact that they play these hands is also the reason why you have to be aggressive after the flop, especially in limit. Make sure you gain all your value from outkicking your opponents, its a huge part of your long-term expectation.

a lot of internet players will play "any ace" which makes it very hard to stay in when you have a have a A with weak kicker IMO

 

[BoZZi]

a4=trash
AJ....after pot was raised from early position=trash

 

[blueedwards]

a4=trash
AJ....after pot was raised from early position=trash

aj is trash top 2 pair with no flush or straight draw?

 

[BoZZi]

if ur only hope to win a hand with AJ is to flop 2 pair.....u need to stop playing

 

[blueedwards]

if ur only hope to win a hand with AJ is to flop 2 pair.....u need to stop playing

i'm not saying that's my only hope but, if you have the top 2 pair after that flop, you are in a good spot. are you saying that aj should fold here because there was a raise in front of you?

 

[oldirtyku]

I don't think that AJ is a trash hand if you are on the button. In NL Holdem, position is as important as hands that you are dealt.

 

[blueedwards]

i want to know who in this forum would fold aj with that flop after a raise? i would not.

 

[BadBeatReturns]

i want to know who in this forum would fold aj with that flop after a raise? i would not.

That wasn't the point, Blue. Dante said:

thanks guys ...this is great tips from all of you

one more question you are dealt A J off and a guy to the right raises the blind from 2$ to 6$ do you call the 6$ with a AJ ??? thanks


I have heard this is a marginal hand in that case?

So preflop, if it was raised to you, do you call the raise with AJ with a raise of 3BB?

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[blueedwards]

That wasn't the point, Blue. Dante said:


So preflop, if it was raised to you, do you call the raise with AJ with a raise of 3BB?

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i re-raise.

 

[BoZZi]

it all depends....if he is raising from the button and ur in the SB and its at a later stage in the tournament u reraise of course.....if its early why even bother over the 15 or 25 chips he is stealing.

after an EP raise.....its an easy fold....at least in my book

 

[johnskelington]

Re-raise, if someone comes over the top fold and wait for a better kicker, if you hit on 4th st bet it out. I always bet the flop like I hit it on the head. Of course I gotta have a good hand (High pair, Ace/king,ace/paint suited) to even reach this point. I wouldn't even be in this flop. *Ace/4 = no good. *see above mentioned hands.

 

[SportsCapperIsland]

Wouldn't play it unless short handed.

I would Muck A 4 95% of the time, wouldnt even see the flop

Unless I was heads up or maybe 3 handed

 

[ThumperDragon]

You are dealt a A 4


the flop A 8 J (rainbow)


Someone bets 2$ and the next calls

How do you play this with a weak Kicker... thanks and when should you fold it??

thanks

Reraise as an information bet, if they call, watch how he bets on the turn, if he reraises your re-raise FOLD, he most likely has high kicker, maybe even 2 pair.

 

[ThumperDragon]

thanks guys ...this is great tips from all of you

one more question you are dealt A J off and a guy to the right raises the blind from 2$ to 6$ do you call the 6$ with a AJ ??? thanks


I have heard this is a marginal hand in that case?

I'd definitely call

 

[ThumperDragon]

Hey Dante, are you taking notes on us?????:lolBIG:

 

[Darkwing]

You are dealt a A 4


the flop A 8 J (rainbow)


Someone bets 2$ and the next calls

How do you play this with a weak Kicker... thanks and when should you fold it??

thanks

For me, it depends on chip position. If I've got a hefty stack compared to others in on the hand, I'll take a chance and bet big, and most of the time everyone else will fold, even if they also have a pair of aces.

If I've got a moderate stack or (heaven forbid) the short stack, then I play conservatively and just check/call. A pair, even if it's aces, just isn't worth a big risk for me. I'll call and stay in to see if it turns into something better, but most of the time I will fold the pair before I put a lot of money behind it.