Is A2-A9 really that great?

I find people will always play A2, A3, A9 etc. On TV you always see pros raising with any ace. Why do people value aces so much? Typciall the answer is that if an ace comes on the flop, you have top pair?

But is top pair really that great? Ace rag isn't that great of a hand to raise with, and thus usually there are a lot of people in the pot, so top pair usually doesn't win a hand, unless you hit more than top pair.

Also, chances are, everyone will play an ace anyway, so someone is likely to have a better kicker. On the other hand, what are the chances of an ace coming on the flop with a bunch of people in the hand, because chances are at least one other person has an ace and then the chance of an ace coming on the flop is around 11%.

It seems everyone puts such high value on an ace, when really, I'd rather have two face cards over A2-A9.

Your thoughts?

Position, stack size (in tourney play), table image make a huge difference... also number seated... what's vgood three handed often gets skunked at a full table...what's good at a short handed, late position at a tight table, will get crushed by a table full of "any two cards will do to see a flop" donks.

They don't call it "Ace rag" for nothin'. If it was "great", it would be called "Ace silk" or something.

That depends on many things!
Position, Players, Chipstack....
But at a ring table you should throw them away.
You will probably loose much chips if you hit top pair with any other player holding AK or AQ...
You see them on TV soo much cause their they are Heads up or few in numbers at the table....

I think this also depends. For example, if everyone for some reason folds to me on the button I'll raise with any ace i have so i can hopefully steal the blinds or if they call i can cbet the flop and probably take it

I prefer Ax suited.that give me the posibility of makeing nut flush.I also saw pros playing Ax unsuited on TV.But is in some special situation.they dont play Ax just depending on top pair.So you must know the background.These pros know each other quietly.

alot of people seem to play it, but it might not work if someone else has an ace. it is all a coin flip.

I agree its rubbish ya see so many call an all in with A 5 and moan that they were unlucky cause the got beat by a King kicker

quote=MrSticker;1122149]They don't call it "Ace rag" for nothin'. If it was "great", it would be called "Ace silk" or something. [/quote]

Exactly. For the most part when Im watching poker on tv, unless they are in position, pros tend to throw away A-rag. For me, unless they are suited its hard to play that hand because even if an ace falls you could be very easily have the lower kicker.

One other thing to remember is that they don't show all of the hands. Sometimes they are trying to make a play at the final table or towards the end of tournaments to get an edge. The most aggressive player will usually win this thing and if everyone waited for monster hands then the luckiest person would win not the most skilled.

Try watching the WSOP at the beginning stages and I can almost guarantee they won't show many pros going in with ace rag.

It's all about the situation, in a nine player ring game, I always toss a low A unless suited and I can get a cheap flop...But heads up, or on a short table in a SNG, A2-A9 is almost always a favorite, and worthy of an aggressive play

A rags is Fantastic compared to K rags Q rags J rags 10 rags.

lol

Ok not a great hand but in the right situation A rags is definitely playable.

A rags to me is A-6 A-5 A-4 A-3 A-2
A-7 A-8 A-9 can be big profit hands if played right.


Roller:
Play it like you got it.

to start with A-rag is rubbish...
But rubbish can be turned to "gold" if played right..., this goes for any other 2 cards by the way...lol
aC

well i might play them early in lose play limping in,if my position is right...but truthfully your looking to pair the rag..pairing the ace puts you in a tough position..so when you are in it dont bet like your holding trips..bet like you mid paired..thats been my take..good ol arag has left its mark on me

myself i dont reli like playing with a2-a9 ok i have one with it a couple of times in torneys and hit some times on tables but most of the time it just get you into trouble mabe if i was in a freeroll or something and had a 3-1 chip stack i mite play ace rag but if the torneys worth big cash dont bother playing rag hands not worth it>

Ace rag used to get me in so much trouble lol, before learning a little hand selection. Against a hyper agressive lag in the late stages of a sng or mtt it becomes a decent hand especially if you have been getting delt trash. I find a lot of people play A- rag like its the nuts but some times it is of course due to the a favorable flop.

What do people think of Phil Gordans veiw of A rag where he will play a5 upwards if 4 people are left at the table? (I think thats correct)

Personally, I don't play Ace rag (AJ or less) unless

1)There are less than 7 players at the tables and the blinds and antes are worth stealing. The less players at the table, the more likely your Ace rag is actually the best hand preflop. That's why you see so many pros play ace rag because they're at the final table and the blinds and antes really improve your stack so go for a steal.

2)If I'm in the yellow M zone and need to steal some blinds to try and get back into the green. Again, the blinds and antes have to be worth it. I wouldn't try to steal in the first or second hour of a tourney. It makes no sense.

3)If my ace rag is suited and I'm in the button or cutoff and there's a bunch of limpers in front and I'm feeling frisky which is almost never.

Other than that, I just toss them. Even in the red zone I'd toss them unless I was really desperate. I'd rather shove pockets or suited connectors than Ace rag. They're just constantly dominated.

"Ace Rag" the poker jargon for the hand your describing is a above average hand when the table is 3-4 handed or when youre in late position but dont become to attached to the hand becuase it is easily beatable. When you play this hand you usually look to hit your aces. Good luck with this.

depepning on the postion these hands are only OK early postion they should be folded button and in the blinds if its folded to you, it could be raised but not alot

I rarely play A rag unless I am in late position and trying to steal the blinds. I see lots of playes playing these hands hitting an A on the flop and thinking they are going to win. The same applies to suited cards for some reason lots of players think that it is good to have suited cards especially if they are connectors. As Phil Gordon says the rank of a card is much better than its suit.

Well first of all these guys are millionaires on TV. So i mean calling with A 9 or raising, hoping to catch something big isn't too much of a hassle. I personally think its the kinda "why not" attitude you sometimes get when you have 67os and call or even raise. Sure A-rag isn't great, butting hitting top two pair is, or trips. There's just something good looking about aces. And an ace with anything suited is always a plus.

I love to Hit that mid size rag and have an A kicker.
Players stay in with there AK AQ AJ in hopes to catch the A on the river.
They get Lucky and catch it.
lol
A rags Wins all the Chips.
AK AQ AJ is out of the Tourney never seeing what Hit them.
lol


Roller:
A rags can make you a big profit if you play it correctly.

You already said it. "On TV" ... Shows are editted for ratings and action, not to represent good poker playing.

I think in early position you should fold A-rag unless it's suited, but it depends on the table. It just gets you into trouble.

to the op , you see most pros playing ace rag at times but if u pay attention they are not calling raises with ace rag,they are the one raising with ace rag.
there is a difference between raising with ace rag,or being the fool and calling a raise with it

yea sometime ace rag can benefit u because u got Ace high but at the same time u can play low and hit a rag. its basically a coin toss with someone who had like KQ etc.

Depends on how many other players are in the game, and of course your position. Heads up with Ace Rag is something you would likely stay with at least until the flop.

I tend not to play A rags un less I am in late position or heads-up. The kickers can get you in too much trouble. I do however like to play A anything suited because you never know when the flush is going to flop, and if it does the pay off is usually big.

I come only if the blind is low for the amount of chips you have, since A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, and can reach a top pair, you have chance to Straight. But if the blinds are high for me, do not enter, only A-10 above.

I have no clue why people think Ace is the best card in the game. But unfortunately, their A2 is obv better than my KK or QQ anyday..So that might just be me, by when im up against A rag, they usually win..

I love the A9, I use to win with it alot, but recently it hasn't been doing it for me...I've learned to curb my Ace-rag habbits...depending on my seat situation, i'll call, as well depending on the blinds...

Lots of variables come into play when you get that Ace-rag in your pocket. You gotta be thinking at all times

NO NO NO!!! A rag is for sucka's. Yes they will pair up sometimes and win a pot if you play them right. So will 72o. The other night in a live game i got 72o on the button all players before me folded so i raised to 4x the BB with the intention that SB and BB would fold, i'd show the "worst hand in poker" get lots groans and a lack of respect at my next raise when I did have a good hand. I had no intetion of getting called. SB AND BB called!!! I flopped two Pr. SB checked, BB Bet 2 bucks, I called, SB folded. Turn came a third 7....FULL BOAT!!! BB Bet 5 Bucks, I raised him all in at 8 Bucks. He turned over a pair of q's, I showed my boat and he exclaimed that i sold my soul to the devil! Point is sure Ax can win BUT so can any two cards. There are so many hands that Ax is weak against. A-10s is the 25th best hand out of 169 possible starting hands. A2, 54th best starting hand. There are 53 better hands to start with.

Any ace depending on how many players are at the table is a good hand. Oviously AK will usually beat the A rag. Any Ace is usually a good starting hand and you can bluff well with an Ace. The worst case scenarios are when A3 vs Ak and the A98 hits the flop. AK has a monster advantage. I usually do not like to play A rag considering if I have A5 against a 77. They have a big advantage.