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karl coakley
Visionary
Silver Level
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NBB
Visionary
Silver Level
Poker has evolved quite a bit over the past 15 years and while trying to steal the blinds with A/rag on the button was a kind of standard play or even on the cut-off, but not as much, now a days there are just so so so many bad players who will call any all-in shove with any cards and if you have been playing online for any period of time you will have witnessed the A/rag get crushed by much weaker rag hands.
Raising A/rag on the button or cut-off is probably still ok, but Shoving with it is just not a bright move in today’s online poker strategy [IMHO].
Raising A/rag on the button or cut-off is probably still ok, but Shoving with it is just not a bright move in today’s online poker strategy [IMHO].
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TheShek
Rock Star
Silver Level
I agree with this, it's something I cut out of my game after frequently getting called and knocked out. It all depends on your stack size and your opponents tendencies as to whether shoving Ace-rag is a good strategy. It's not just bad players who call though, good players will call with hands that have good equity against your Ace-rag shoves, and if you develop a rep for doing that you'll get called more often. Trying limping Ace-rag from the small blind sometimes. Fold it even and wait for better spots.
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Mateo
Rock Star
Silver Level
As others have said, shoving doesn't seem like the best strategy unless you are short stacked. I ould prefer to open this to 2.5/3bb and hopefully take it down there, otherwise put out a small cbet on the flop depending on how play continues
kbuinowski
Rock Star
Silver Level
about ace rag
to me i see a lot of people will push all in with an ace rag. on first hand so they can double up. to me the people that needs to double up or more so they can play. to me when people do this they don't know how to play poker very well.
to me i see a lot of people will push all in with an ace rag. on first hand so they can double up. to me the people that needs to double up or more so they can play. to me when people do this they don't know how to play poker very well.
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bkkblues99
Rock Star
Silver Level
Depends a lot on postition, situation and table Dynamics. With an overly aggressive player on the BU, AX is a great 3betting hand from the SB.
But for me, when I do that and get called, I play cautiously going forward (unless of course I hit two pair).
The reason you see a lot of people doing this is the blocker effect. So basically when you are holding an A, the likelihood that your opponent has one decreases. (Please understand I am NOT saying that if you have an A villain CANNOT have one.)
Hence AX is a decent hand to re-steal. Also, when really short stacked, AX is a very powerful hand!
But for me, when I do that and get called, I play cautiously going forward (unless of course I hit two pair).
The reason you see a lot of people doing this is the blocker effect. So basically when you are holding an A, the likelihood that your opponent has one decreases. (Please understand I am NOT saying that if you have an A villain CANNOT have one.)
Hence AX is a decent hand to re-steal. Also, when really short stacked, AX is a very powerful hand!
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gabethegimp
Rock Star
Silver Level
Basically once you're at 10bb's anything goes, every one blind after that you should statistically limit yourself to a/6 and above, then another blind, a/7 and above etc.
A/2-5, esp suited are shoveworthy irrelevant of your position when you're really short stacked.
My two cents.
A/2-5, esp suited are shoveworthy irrelevant of your position when you're really short stacked.
My two cents.
Ragequit
Rock Star
Silver Level
Generally they're good steal hands as they block out some of the combos for the more nutted aces {AA AK AQ + }. The problem with the baby aces is that if you do get called by a bigger Ace then you're in a world of pain, dominated and busted out. I try to first assign a range to my opponent's Ace hands and decide what their lowest likely calling Ace would be. Then I try to stay in the top third of that range for safety. For example, if my opponent is defending their blinds with any Ace then I will generally steal from them with A7 or A8+ but I will not call a steal from them with less than AT+. This is due to the gap concept of needing a stronger range to call than to shove (thanks to added fold equity). Of course all of these decisions are dependant on pot odds and stack considerations. Especially during M<5 situations. Just use a stronger Ace range to call shoves and open it up slightly for making those same shoves yourself. I do not recommend Stealing or Calling steals with all baby Aces as these are easily crushed. Choose them wisely and tune that range with your opponent's tendencies.
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gabethegimp
Rock Star
Silver Level
A/2-5 esp suited are actually extremely powerful when you're short stacked. You have straight, nut flush and a high card, yes the kicker is weak but statistically you're in a pretty good spot. Plus if you pair and ace on the board, it's unlikely somebody else in a full 9 handed game would call with rags on an ace, you'll likely steal and even if you get called you got an insane amount of draws.
pr0serbian
Rock Star
Silver Level
Sometimes.If blinds are very short and you are on the button or small blind its profitabile play.Also sometimes on bubble shoving Ax from button or small blind is good,but you have to be carfull:concider stake sizes,they previus calling hands when somone shoves into them were there some weaker holdings,are they look scared of the bubble etc...Its often play in sng but also in mtt people use it...And alot of time when button is minreise stealing people shove Ax from blinds
radartodd69
Rock Star
Silver Level
My opinion is that you could still steal the blinds without going all in. If someone calls your 3x open raise then that usually(not always) means they have a big hand that wants to see a flop. If the board texture looks dry, you can try to put pressure on the blind(s) to fold out their hand. Usually a 1/2 to 3/4 or even pot bet might get your opponent(s) to fold. Of course if you happen to flop a monster, you're gonna have a lot of options.
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Tommyc9494
Rock Star
Silver Level
I’d say it all depends on the table your playing if it’s a tight table give it a go but if it’s a lose table where there are a lot of re raises if cut it out till the game tightens up towards the bubble or should I say if
azforlife
Legend
Bronze Level
After reading this thread & my recent experience, gotta fold Ace rags unless I'm down to less than 5 BBs as I keep getting knocked out in key spots when I'm short stacked esp. near the money or on the final table! Would love to hear a Pros take on this, still not fully satisfied but that's the plan going forward due to recent punts, as it feels.