Ace Rag on the button?

#1 15th September 2016, 3:39 AM

Very newbie player here, first post. Open to any criticism.

I played in a live $55 buy $2K guarantee tourney tonight. Couldn't seem to catch any decent cards.

At one point, blinds were 400-800 and I had about 10 blinds left. 3 or 4 players limp to me on the button holding A3o. I fold because all the reading I have done and videos I have watched (and I completely get it!!!) prove it is unwise to play Ace-rag in almost any position.

Any how as you guessed I folded. Flop gives me two pair and would have won a sizable pot, depending on how I played it.

Any thoughts?

I almost think this may have been a good opportunity to at least call, if not raise seeing how everyone limped in. but again, knowing that Ace rag does terribly against any other Ace combo, i opted out.

Any insight is welcomed.

#2 15th September 2016, 3:12 PM

In a tournament where you are starved for good cards, blinds are getting large and you are down to 10 BB left. In my experience ANY ace is a good ace as long as no one shoved in front of you. With a couple of limp ins a 3x or a little more bet is either going to more that likely take down the pot, or give you the information you need to know what situation your in.

#3 15th September 2016, 3:33 PM

Hindsight being 20-20 I would have to agree. I guess I'll chalk it up as lesson learned. Thanks for your input.

#4 15th September 2016, 4:39 PM

It was unfortunate that the flop fell as it did, any other outcome and you would have been glad that you weren't in the pot. A3o can be a playable hand in the right position, and you were. You could end up with the top pair and there is an outside chance of making a straight. I would have seen the flop, but you know who was betting and their style of play.

#5 15th September 2016, 4:59 PM

A3 isnt too raggy because youhave the straight draw as well so when in a position with little left chips wise its a playable hand with 10 blinds left

#6 15th September 2016, 5:03 PM

ill play ace rag on the button if no one raised but you folded as you thought other players had you at that poiint prob a good read. but ima 2.5x blinds raise in that spot gooder luck and great ?

#7 15th September 2016, 6:36 PM

I agree.

#8 15th September 2016, 6:56 PM

In a live situation I would have shoved and the limpers would fold but online you can shove and still get 2 or 3 calls. That is a hard hand to play but when you get low on chips you have no choice but to play ace rags.

#9 15th September 2016, 8:40 PM

I am not adding much more here, but I agree that Ace rag from any position is usually a fold from me. Having said that, when blinds are large, and you are in late position with a short stack, an Ace can be a powerful card. In a limped pot in late position with Ace rag, there is nothing wrong with a 3-bet or a shove if you are short-stacked. If it is a raised pot, unless you are in the "Danger Zone", where a shove/fold is your only option, nothing wrong with the fold. I look at it from the perspective that if you hit the flop, you either have Aces with a weak kicker, or rag pair with a big kicker. Neither of those are particularly fun.