How would you play................

............. "A-small" pre flop?

I'm talking about Ace-2, Ace-3, Ace-4 or Ace-5.

What i'm really asking is what value should you put on these types of hands pre-flop,

Let fire your opinions!!!!

Straight to trash can unless they are suited in late position!

rite in the dumpster unless your in the blinds or late position and you can get in CHEAP,, really cheap>>> buckster436

Early position, muck. Middle position, muck. Late position, muck unless nobody is in the pot before you and they're suited, in which case bring them in for a raise and try to take down the blinds. If you don't improve to the nut flush or draw, muck to a raise. Head-up, A-x, or "any Ace" is a good starting hand and should be played just like a middle to small pair or high suited connectors. Just my .02 cents though.

Early position, muck. Middle position, muck. Late position, muck unless nobody is in the pot before you and they're suited, in which case bring them in for a raise and try to take down the blinds. If you don't improve to the nut flush or draw, muck to a raise. Head-up, A-x, or "any Ace" is a good starting hand and should be played just like a middle to small pair or high suited connectors. Just my .02 cents though.

Agree with above posters. These hands are not middle position hands nor late position hands - so unless you get them in the blinds and can limp in ... trash 'em.

Well that was good advice I have been playing them that way and that is exactly what i found if you pop the flush your good to go. But you can get burn if you hold on to the pair aces if one comes up because no kicker. At least that is my opinion.

i been winning low stakes games with playing those hands os. I usually flop the pair and maybe even caught a two pair and that is enough to take the pot...

Used to play them all the time until I started losing just about every hand to a better kicker. If the flop has an Ace, and there are more than 2 folks in the pot you can just about guarantee that there's another ace with better kicker out there. Hard to fold top pair so you keep calling and lose. Better not to play the hand in the first place. Will not play this unless they're suited and I'm in the blinds and no pre-flop raises...

Just dump, simple as. I will call small BB or v light raise in an SnG but multi table lay 'em down and forget about 'em

All-in, every time. Don't listen to all this nonsence about stack size or table position or how tight or agressive the table is. Ace rag is nothing short of solid gold and is guaranteed to hold up every time. Have fun and look for me at the tables. I play at Full Tilt.

You serious? I think your posts are great on here but I completely disagree with you on this one!

How can this hand hold up? If an A dont come down he is hoping for a high card win, and who the hell is gonna call an all-in holidng anything less than mid-high pair? And even if they dont hold a pair, his low kicker has to carry him through against a player who will almost certainly be holding 1 of 2 cards higher than 2-7

I would lay that hand down almost every time

Hi - I think 4Dogs is joking and looking for some money. LOL

In a full table of mostly tight aggressive player lay this hand down if you are in early position as well as middle (that is to be completely safe and solid). In late position I would either try to limp in or I might raise on the button or next to last from the button. It is a bit of a risky play but it mixes up your play and makes you a bit harder to read. On the flop your looking to hit 2 pair or a flush draw but if there is only one player in the flop with you and you hit your ace (since you are on the button) if he does not bet make a feeler bet or if you feel he is weak and you have a good read on him you can bet more. However if he calls or even raises you a high percentage of the time you are better off laying down this hand. Ax is meant to be played in a multiway pot as it isnt too strong heads up so the raise preflop is meant to steal the blinds, if you dont steal them you might be at a disadvantage this is a play to be used if you have a tight table image and you use it very infrequently.

Hehe and yes Michelle dogs is just joking around ; ) I've seen this guys posts hes a very intelligent fellow. I enjoy reading his posts especially the turtle and Achilles one about the probablility of AA being dealt 2 consecutive times = )

Thanks Michele. At least someone got it.I'm glad someone liked that one. I thought it tanked.

You had me worried Four Dogs.

Welcome back!lol

I think my sense of humour stayed at the tables yesterday after blowing my Ladbrokes balance

I agree completely, trash can, except for A-4 suited, specifically on the button.
This one hand is unique from all of the others. On the button raise, and if someone from middle or late position raise then re raise.

Bill

Bill, out of curiosity, why is A-4 specifically?

A2s,A3s, are a 58% over random hands. Equitable for sure, but not the edge we need to make it playable with any degree of confidence. A5s, is dangerous because almost all flops will leave you playing the second best hand. With all of the above hands, hit your A and your kicker is no good. fill perfectly and you are in trouble to an over straight. 56s is playable for most so your A5 has a likely chance of getting smacked to a 6 high straight. However, A4s is drawing to the nut flush, is a 2 gap from a straght, that if it hits will probably be good. The reason why I said raise, is to reduce the possibility that someone is in there with the 46. These things combined make that one hand in particular playable.

A quick insight to the "wheel"
A2 is the dumb side to a flop of 456.
A3 with a flop of 245 leaves an open ender with likely playable cards. "67"
gives someone an open ender. Very costly, as he will hit often enough.
A5 you need to fill in the middle, you almost can't calculate it as a draw.
A4 is just right, if a flop of 235 hits, only a 46 can beat you...

Bill

Interesting Bill. I never would have thought of that.

Interesting.

Cheers guys,

I'm gonna take that on board, all your help is gratefully received.