ATs Speculative or Top Pair Hand?

[Erik343]

Hi I am reading a book called Donkey Poker (Volume 1: Preflop). It's great lol! I am now reviewing some of my poker strategies before I hit up the casino later.

The new thing I do when I play in the local casino is if my hand makes big pairs, I isolate with a larger bet. If it is a speculative hand that makes three of a kinds, straights, flushes or better, I make a small bet to lure as many victims in the pot as I can.

So my question is, I found a hand, ATs, that I am not sure about? Not sure if this makes top pair hands or speculative hands? Should I raise to isolate one opponent, or lure multiple opponents into the preflop pot? How do you guys play ATs? I believe that it can be played either way because it is somewhat in the middle of the road... It's in-between speculative and a top pair hand...

Also, I was wondering what you think about AJs or KQs?


Thanks!
Erik W.

 

[blueskies]

Just dont over play AT... Easily dominated. At best you are facing a coinflip (vs. small to medium pairs) if there's plenty of preflop aggression.

 

[Tigroslav]

ATs along with A5s are very good deepstack hands that when played properly for nut flushes and nut straights will yield way more profit compared to AJs and KQs which are good too but way easier to read and fold to when beat thus those two play better with shorter stacks <30bb

 

[63burner]

Depends on your bankroll..

ATs is both speculative(A,, suited) and top pair possibility. If you have a large enough stack(MTT), or bankroll(cash) go ahead and be as speculative as you are comfortable losing.

If you don't have the stack or bankroll, ATs is a lovely hand to play cautiously. Don't over-committ; let the hand play out, proceed accordingly. If you're not committed, you can cut your losses if the flop goes against you, for example.
Too many times with ATs, I end up at the river begging for an ace, after I've run through "all those outs.."

 

[TomCj]

I Would say Spec

I always consider tens speculative,
because there are so many over-cards that can come out against it

With AT, if you pair your ace, you can easily be up against
an opponent with the same pair

You have 12 cards (JQKx4) that could have come out to beat your kicker
that's nearly 25% of the deck

If you are playing an 8-man table,
it's virtually assured that one or more players
are holding one or more of those 12 cards

Question is, Is it your opposing ace?

All too often the opposing ace will have your kicker beat

Of course, this whole scenario assumes you didn't fill trips or better

Play carefully,


TC

 

[Erik343]

Thanks for your advice guys! I am playing poker tomorrow at the local casino.

 

[marvinsytan]

ATs AJs yeah very good to play post flop

KQs you should 3-bet so you can iso 1 opp

 

[skavenger]

several factors to analyze, these hands are median... I think your strategy is very predictable, but if you feel comfortable and it's working, go ahead!

 

[YuriDitz]

I'm wary of this hand because if I catch a pair of 10 on the flop, but there are higher cards on the board, I'm in a difficult position and will fund my opponent's aggression. And if A comes out, that's even worse, because my kicker is pretty low.

 

[theStarfish]

AT is difficult to play but in late position AT is more playable when nobody has raised before. I usually fold AT in early position and after a raise from early position.

 

[Redman1902]

AT is just as much a borderline hand. You will often be dominated on A high boards without dominating many Ax yourself. Most importantly, a weaker Ax or weaker hands will rarely pay you off on A high boards.

Don't commit too much with this hand in big pots.

 

[BelFish]

All raises should be made approximately the same size (you can vary them), otherwise it will be immediately clear to good players when you have a paired hand. Also, the strength of ATs (and any other hand) is highly dependent on position you play it from. On UTG it can be garbage, but on BU it can be a very strong hand.

 

[sincos]

I consider ATs to be a speculative hand, since this hand is capable of winning a multi-pot

 

[emejota23]

I like an AK better than a pair of AA, well it all depends on the position, and the way you play, you're not going to play, AA, anyway, than a KK or a KA, all hands are played, anyway different way.

 

[darkvick]

I think ATs is speculative. I like to play all Axs depending of the oponents and the SPR. So the hand is good but is so much more to observe when playing it.