Pocket Aces - Everyone's Favorite

I love getting dealt AA as much as anyone, but I'm not so sure it's done much for me. Sure, if you can get someone else to commit all their chips before the flop, you're a significant favorite to win and either double up or knock them out (assuming you're only going against one other player).

However, if someone or more than one actually call your bet or raise, what happens after the flop? They don't say that AA wins small pots and loses big pots for no reason.

Occasionally you'll be up against A with a good kicker, or Ax suited and actually see an A on the flop. Then you're in great position to win a big pot. But that won't happen often. More likely you'll end up winning a small pot, since you can't afford to let anyone outdraw you on the turn and/or river. I've made that mistake too many times.

Worse yet, you might end up against two pair, trips, or a flush (or flush draw) or straight (or straight draw). Unfortunately starting with the best hand actually limits the made hands you'll end up with, since you only have one card to a straight or flush. Usually if you flop an A, clearly what you're hoping for, you're not going to find a caller very often. Maybe trapping someone will work, but you need to get lucky in that regard and hope you're not actually up against a flush or straight.

Or am I missing something to the analysis and/or playing the hand wrong?

i agree with you. although aces are great to start with i seem to never win a big hand with them. youre almost always going to bet after the flop with your aces, but then theres always that player who calls just because he might hit something. then for heavens sake they always freakin hit it on the turn. although i like getting aces in the hole to start, sometimes id rather kings or queens

I used to think the same thing about KK until Kouraceous Dog told me in a thread to actually start paying attn (provided I bet it properly) and sure enough he was right. Those AA KK will hold up more often than not, we just tend to remember the not more.

Thats the 100% truth!

Obviously AA is ALWAYS best Heads Up!

I'm not sure if the poker gods were trying to make a point, but the very next SnG I played ($10 STT) resulted in the following first 2 hands:

Hand 1) Player A with AA bets 3BB, or 90. Player B with KK raises to 180. Player A re-raises to 585. Player B re-raises all in and is called by Player A. The AA hold up, even finding trips on the turn to win the hand and knock out Player B.

Hand 2) Player C with KK bets 90. I raise to 270 with AA. Player C calls for 180 more. Flop is 4s Jh Kh. Player C checks and I bet the pot, 585. I wanted him to fold in case he had a flush draw. I really didn't think he had KK, JJ, or KJ, but of course I had no hand history regarding his tendencies or betting patterns. He raised all in and I called my last 645. I lowered my head in shame as a couple of 8's on the turn and river sealed my fate and early exit.

Yes, sometimes you raise from early position, someone calls behind, and flop looks totaly harmless and you bid for value every street right into a set, and you have done nothing wrong, but in the long run AA is a winning hand I think.

most players lose more with aces then win in the long run...partly because so many players cant let them go...and thats the key to playing aces...when you know you are beat, you gotta lay em down...just cuz you got aces, doesnt mean you are destined to win at showdown...after all, its just one pair

Really? I doubt that people in general lose money with AA. If so then they would be better off just pushing all in pre-flop

This thread phails

Most often the AA will hold up, but your chances of winning definitely lower with more people in the hand. It's tempting to try and triple or quadruple up, but that doesn't happen often. You may get outdrawn from time to time, and it is important to know when to lay the hand down if you get deep into a hand.

what he ^ said.

Why so rude?, if you don't like the thread, why comment in it?

I understand the reasons for the comments(another AA thread) but this was started by a relatively new member who may not know how to use our search function or just wanted to voice an opinion.