How do you play Ace-x?

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luckytokenz

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I usually don't like to play below A-8 in EP, but raise about half the time in LP. i also notice that sometimes when i play A4-A5 i catch 2 pair and win big pots. Is there a good strategy for playing these hands or are they better to just let go?
 
RichKo

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I only play them late if they are suited, going for the flush, and usually toss them other times.
 
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jthinker5

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I also only play suited Ax in lp and am always cognizant of possible kicker trouble if I do not hit the flush.
 
Bernard Pugi

Bernard Pugi

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I sometimes play those hands as long as there are no one raise it 4-5x the BB because he might have a greater hand than me. suited it's ok too. but if the Flop didn't help, I just check or fold.
 
jj48fan

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With an Ax hand Id rather have x=2-5 since at least Ive got the straight draw and if I flop 2 pair it isnt as obvious.

I only play them late and its rair at that.
 
cardplayer52

cardplayer52

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i sometimes play AJs in EP but mostly fold it. i would muck A8 or so easy from EP. in late if no one opens i'll make a raise w/ almost any ace to take the blinds. if i get plaed baclk at then i revaluate. but i definatly don't want to be playing a weak ace out of position.
 
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RA2000

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Depends on the situation!
At a full table with good players you should throw them away most of the time...
 
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Machidon7

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if i'm going after flush( and no one raise 3,4x BB) i go for it ....otherwise fold

any Ax hand i got....after i see the flop i estimate what my chances are and

play from there on....or fold if my chances are small.....or either check or bet

depend of how many cards i need for flush( 1 or none) :deal:
 
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The Muppetteer

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I will play any suited A from qany position and I will raise if I am in late position and no one has raised before me. Generally I am looking for the flush rather than hitting the A with a bad kicker. Recently at my home game I raised on the BUT with A7 of hearts both blinds called. Flop was AQR rainbow SB bet BB called I folded as I knew my A was no good. SB had set Jacks and BB rivered the str8.
 
lektrikguy

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Position is everything. If you are early position I would fold. It's not that strong of a hand unless it's suited,in which case I might call,depending on the table. If you're short stacked Phil Gordon has a rule-you count the number of cards over your x card-for example if you have an 8 there are 6 cards above the 8. If there are more than 8 players to act then you have a 50% chance of being dominated if you push all in.
 
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pokermatch

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Playing Ace Rag in the long run will cost you. Ace Rag is bad due to its
weakness against and Ace with a higher kicker. If you catch an ace, you
could be easily beaten by another ace and by calling it could cost you
a lot of money. Now, every once and a while you might get two pair,
but even with those winings, you wouldn't be able to get back all the money
you lost. Hell a lot of the times I even fold it in late position, but there
are other times, like when the blinds are folded to you, and your on the
button, that you could raise while feeling secure about your hand.
 
jdeliverer

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Playing Ace Rag in the long run will cost you. Ace Rag is bad due to its
weakness against and Ace with a higher kicker. If you catch an ace, you
could be easily beaten by another ace and by calling it could cost you
a lot of money. Now, every once and a while you might get two pair,
but even with those winings, you wouldn't be able to get back all the money
you lost. Hell a lot of the times I even fold it in late position, but there
are other times, like when the blinds are folded to you, and your on the
button, that you could raise while feeling secure about your hand.

What he said.

I personally never play A7off or worse; I don't even like to play Ax suited because it gets me in more trouble from hitting an ace and getting too confident than it helps when I make the nut flush.
 
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smoovebrutha

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in ep i will only play a10 suited and a-j. in lp i will include a 2-5 suited. nothing in between ever. no straight no flush and im getting action with the late cards it's an easy fold.
 
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luckytokenz

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I'v read all of these post, and I think they are all very valuable, and all have very good insight into how to play these hands. I think it's clear to me now, that I should not play these hands, unless as mentioned, if the action is folded me in the blind, then I can raise and feel pretty good about it. I think i might play AT minimum starting in third pos. Earlier positions, I will tighten up, and I might start to play A9 from LP. Am I right?
 
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aznman08

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A-x I wouldnt play them unless I was in CO or later position. and more than often than not I'd throw them when someone raises pf unless its a very loose player and im in position against him.
 
PoKeRFoRNiA

PoKeRFoRNiA

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Here's my full strategy on how to play Ace-rag. I'm not gonna say my way is right way to play because everyone including myself have flaws with playing hole cards in certain way. BUt here it goes, which helps me a lot in casinos.

Early position: I only limp in with any Ace-rag suited. I toss any Ace-X offsuits. I raise with A-J offsuits and above because this clears many people and also scares people away since they assume I have premium hand if I raised from early position.

Middle position: I raise with Ace-rag suited. I limp with Ace-X offsuits if I have very healthy chip stack. If I'm chip leader, I raise with Ace-rag once in a while.

Late position: if Everyone folded and action is to me, I raise with Ace-rag and above if I'm chip leader. if I am middle, I usually fold because it's not worth it. I usually face situations where I raise and then short-stack reraises all in and I end up getting priced to call. So it's not a good idea to raise when you're middle. if I'm short-stack and I'm in late position and everyone folded, I push all in because there's high chance that button, small/big blinds have rags. If someone pushed or raised from early/middle position, I fold Ace-X offsuits.

Ace rags are horrible because when you're called or when you're facing an opponent, you're very likely 2-1 underdog at best because you're either facing Ace with higher kicker or pocket pair.
 
JessyMoneyAA

JessyMoneyAA

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Never play a weak Ace in Early Position even if it's a suited ace.
You loose more with weak aces then you win.
I play just weak suited ace in late position .
 
jdeliverer

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Here's my full strategy on how to play Ace-rag. I'm not gonna say my way is right way to play because everyone including myself have flaws with playing hole cards in certain way. BUt here it goes, which helps me a lot in casinos.

Early position: I only limp in with any Ace-rag suited. I toss any Ace-X offsuits. I raise with A-J offsuits and above because this clears many people and also scares people away since they assume I have premium hand if I raised from early position.

Middle position: I raise with Ace-rag suited. I limp with Ace-X offsuits if I have very healthy chip stack. If I'm chip leader, I raise with Ace-rag once in a while.

Late position: if Everyone folded and action is to me, I raise with Ace-rag and above if I'm chip leader. if I am middle, I usually fold because it's not worth it. I usually face situations where I raise and then short-stack reraises all in and I end up getting priced to call. So it's not a good idea to raise when you're middle. if I'm short-stack and I'm in late position and everyone folded, I push all in because there's high chance that button, small/big blinds have rags. If someone pushed or raised from early/middle position, I fold Ace-X offsuits.

Ace rags are horrible because when you're called or when you're facing an opponent, you're very likely 2-1 underdog at best because you're either facing Ace with higher kicker or pocket pair.

Unless you are very good at reading people and/or postflop play, this is probably looser than you want to be. You should try to figure out your VPIP% with some sort of tracking software and see if it is too high.
 
lektrikguy

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That hand will get you in trouble. Unless they are suited and I'm not shortstacked I fold them. When you're heads up their value goes up, but don't count on them winning a big pot for you.
 
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Bobmurphy07

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Early game I don't play these hands ever from ep, not ever. And rarely from lp. But late game I'll open up a bit and just see if I can't steal pre, if I get called I'm usually rdy to let go on the flop unless I hit it big.
 
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