What's Your Thoughts?

I was wondering how everyone felt about the A-rag. I personally am not a big fan. It seems to get me in trouble more often than its worth. Is there a difference between playing it in a ring game as opposed to a tournament? Let me know.

while as a ring game player, i can say i dont play A rag worse than A10, unless im on the button and everyone folds to me ill raise, but thats pretty standard i think. it's best to avoid it in ring games or tournaments. i used to play ace rag when i was a beginner, and definately lost more than i won in doing so.there are definately situations where u can play ace rag, but overall i think ur best to just avoid the hand.

The Naked Ace

Too many players are willing to play cards with weak kickers. Now I know to most people kickers are only important in a show down situation and this is No-limit Texas Hold'em, so if played appropriately you shouldn't even get to a show down. But lets be reasonable, that is not always the case especially in tournaments. When the blinds get high in comparison to your stack your going to have to gamble. A naked ace begins to look like it is the way to go especially if it is suited and a lot of times it is the correct thing to do. But here is a thought to keep in mind when playing weak kickers: your second card that you have available to pair is low and probably wont beat the board if it pairs. Now luckily with an ace it is connecting up until the 6 but other big cards dont have that capability and I see way too many suited kings calling big bets. Your odds on flopping a flush with two suited cards is less than one percent so as you can imagine that could get extremely expensive. It is a little different in a cash game cause if you gamble and lose you can always rebuy. But I only gamble when the pot is laying me odds and my bankroll is appreciative. Naked ace should only be played in a cash game when the price is cheap, you have position or your changing gears to throw off your opponents. I like to steal the blinds with this hand from the button in an unopened pot, especially when it is suited. Ina tournament, play this hand much the same but obviously if your short stacked (5 or less big bets) you have got to go with it. Also, you can all if you're the big stack and have the chance to eliminate a short opponent who is likely to be pushing with any two cards.

Deepstack cash game, throw it away in any position unless stealing, sometimes in tournaments if you think an opponent is pushing ATC it's a good call because simply having the A will put you ahead. A2o vs. a random hand is a 55-45 favorite. But you don't want to be playing A-rag if stacks are deep because unless you hit 2 pair or else a straight (if the rag is 2-5) you never know if you're beat by a kicker or not. Maybe a tournament player can get you more info on what situations in a tourney would call for playing A-rag, but mostly I think it's when you're going all-in preflop, either pushing or calling. I play almost exclusively cash games (I play CC tourneys and the occaisional big MTT for fun) and I'm not playing anything AT and down without decent position and even with decent position I'm not pushing with anything worse than A7 unless I'm in a position where I would steal with ATC. At that point the cards don't even matter.

I just wanted to say thank you to those who have replied. Its been a recent transition for me throwing thesre hands away but worth it so far. By what I've seen I may have thrown them to often and possibly missed out on a number of bets I could of raked in. thank you

The only real times I play A rag is either on the button or one off the button to steal the blinds. ALso, limping with a suited ace rag behind a few limpers can be a good play, but you shouldn't like your hand if you flop top pair you want to make two pair or a flush draw or str8.

In a MTT or sng if I can limp with ace rag in late position I do so (cutoff or button). Unless players yet to act are timid...then auto 3-4 x BB raise.

If raised action b4 me and I'm in late position I just throw it away.

In early position, for me it is a no-brainer. I fold.

Many opponents are fond of playing A 4 A 7 etc. and are delighted with their prowess as a poker playerwhen they crack KK. As you know, they are usually AT BEST 30%. How silly am I....I'm looking for 80. But that's my style.

Good luck and have fun