How Good are Suited Aces as a FL Starting Hand? |
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Posted Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:28 am GMT by lwestatbus
I've always considered A-x suited to be a decent speculative starting hand in fixed limit Hold'em. Sort of on par with 7-8 suited--play them multi-way or late position with no raise and see what happens. I actually prefer A-(2, 3, 4, 5) suited because of the straight possibility in addition to the flush potential.
I realize, though, that I don't win with these cards very often. On the other hand I don't lose much with them as I'm very aware of the risk inherent in pairing my ace with a low kicker and play accordingly.
Does anyone have any thoughts, theories, or just plain ol' opinions on this? What about in NL tournys?
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Posted Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:43 am GMT by MrDarling
Sklanksy says that in low levels FL suited A are good hands to play, though he says the higher the kicker the better. So in fact A6 is better then A2.
Can't remember how he suggested to play them since I don't play FL. I think they are good to raise with from LP and even good to call 1 raise sometimes...
Posted Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:48 pm GMT by BeerWench13
I don't play FL, but in NL tourneys, it depends. I know, I know, doesn't everything. Position makes a difference, stack sizes, table image, etc. I generally prefer to raise from LP with them in an unraised pot and may limp in MP depending, again, on stack sizes and the basic aggressiveness of the opponents behind me. They can be tricky hands, but can pay well when you flush out or hit two pair, but are easier to get away from if you miss. I'd say play them cheaply if you can at full tables or OOP, and make them bigger than they are in LP or short-handed. All of this is very player dependent though.
Posted Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:27 pm GMT by exit music
Ax suited can occasionally get you into trouble if you flop 2 pair because it's pretty tough to get away from if you are beat b/c TPTK played similarily to how top 2 pair would play. I would not touch Ax suited in a tournament until we are 5 or less handed, or unless I am making a stone-bluff. Ax is never a hand I'd want to show down in a tournament until push-bot time.
Posted Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:53 am GMT by UrAteUp
I play Axs often in ring games and tourneys. The secret, as you already know, is knowing when to throw them away. If you are on a flush draw and get the odds to play then by all means play them out, but again position and prior action is the best determining factor in playing Axs hands.
Like you, I like to limp in with them. If I am playing with a bunch of tight players I will often limp in with them from EP. If the flush draw hits the board, lets say a four flush, then I am actually apt to bet out here in EP. Usually half a pot. This helps to hide the strength of my hand and what I am going for. If I flop a flush then I usually play it sly and sneaky unless I see something scarry, like the board pairing. Then I will fire out and either get some chips or force a laydown. Usually though if someone hits the set they find it too hard to lay down.
This advice is based on my playing levels which as most know are lower levels. The people here are often flush blind and draw blind and will often call you down to the end with TPTK.
Posted Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:09 pm GMT by tame_deuces
IMHO bad suited aces are complete crap hands for FL unless the pot hasn't been opened in late and we raise or alot of people are allready in. Openlimping with them in EP/MP in full ring is awful.
In NL you need them for semi-bluffing and pulling some moves so you can get some action when shoving with strong hands later.
Posted Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:57 pm GMT by lwestatbus
| tame_deuces wrote: | IMHO bad suited aces are complete crap hands for FL unless the pot hasn't been opened in late and we raise or alot of people are allready in. Openlimping with them in EP/MP in full ring is awful.
In NL you need them for semi-bluffing and pulling some moves so you can get some action when shoving with strong hands later. |
It sounds like the way you'd play suited connectors, the way I already play Ax suited. I will occassionally limp in early position with either hand if my expectation is a multiway unraised pot based on table history. Otherwise I play them pretty much as you describe.
Posted Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:33 pm GMT by Phil14312
First of all, how do people not understand this is FL?
I usually throw them away in EP, rarely will I open-limp with them unless its a real juicy loose-passive live game. After a bunch of limpers then things start getting interesting. In shorthanded situations they are also a very playable hand for a raise in position.
Posted Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:39 pm GMT by xDiamond_CutteRx
In FL, they CAN be good under the right conditions.
If the game is mostly loose and passive, with a lot of multiway pots, they can probably be played from almost any position preflop, and you should usually just limp in.
If the game is loose and somewhat aggressive, you should probably fold these from early position. In this type of game, you can play these hands a lot of the time from late position, even for two bets, if a few people have entered the pot before you and there's a high chance of a multiway pot. You definitely do not want to get isolated with this hand, because it does not usually play well heads-up.
If the game is tough, you probably don't want to play these hands except in late position; if there has been a limper or two, you should usually just limp behind. If no one has entered the pot, these hands are usually worth a raise in LP in an attempt to steal the blinds. Although Axs does not play as well short-handed, it will often play well against a single player defending his blind OOP.
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