[chris]

How do you play suited ace in preflop?
I think sometimes I see the Ace and that its suited and I ten to over play the hand, raising big preflop and not hittin the suit but hitting the Ace. Only to be outkicked when its time to show down. I think it is always good to raise with Ax Suited, But when would be a good time to raise big? AJ or better? or not even that? Just curious as to the thoughts or opinions. Thanks.

[ballen]

In general I disagree with raising with Axs pre-flop, but as everything in poker, there are many variables that you didn't address in your original post.

What type of game are you playing? Online vs. B & M...Limit vs. No Limit...Tight aggressive vs. Loose passive, etc. etc.

What position are you raising from?

What is your table Image?

Give us a little more info and I'm sure you'll get a flood of info in responce.

My personal thoughts are only to call with suited Ax in early and middle position and only raise from late position if I can steal the blinds or drop some other limpers in a tight game. If eveyone is going to call your raise then you don't want to raise with anything less then A10s from LP, so that you hopefully don't run into kicker problems.

[chris]

Ok, to address some questions. I guess they would call me loose aggressive, (dont get too much respect untill I end up with all their money at the end of the night). We play 1/3 blinds NLHE, Usually everyone buysin for right around 100. I usually just call with AxS in early position, but Like i said i tend to raise in late position thinking I probably have the best hand, our game is pretty loose even though we have about 7-10 guys. People arent afraid to toss in their money. I guess I wanted comments on that as well as what are the good cards to be raising on preflop, I know low pairs are a dumb raise because u want to hit the set and have a lot of people in their to pay you off, you should protect pairs like 9-jacks so their should be a nice raise...I usually make a pretty big raise with QQ, KK, or AA, or AKs or AQs. Just like hearing comments and poker insight on anything. All comments welcome. Thanks again

[norshvind]

I personally don't consider AXs much of a hand until I see a flop. Chances are you will miss the flop and get stuck with either:

1. A pair of Aces with serious kicker problems. Problematic in that you probably won't get the player with the better kicker to fold.
2. Bottom or mid pair with top kicker. Who has top pair/overpair?
3. Two pair...You lucked up here.

[johnf]

If you're playing limit hold'em, you need to do more than merely look at a sutied ace and decide what to do about it. If you are in early position, it's a good hand to throw away, since you've no idea what the action will be like behind you, nor whether you'll get the number of callers to make playing this a good move.

In late position, if only the lbinds are active and you're in the cut-off seat or on the button, you can raise with this hand and you probably have the best of it from the get go.

But with ace-rag, even when it's suited, you really need the flop to hit you twcie to give you a playable hand. You have no kicker, so you have to count on hitting two pair, which is a real longshot, or you need to flop a fourflush, which you'll only do about ten-percent of the time.

If you're playing a tournament, this hand is an entirely different story, and the issues surrrounding it's playability revolve around how big the blinds are, how many players remain at the table, how deep the money is, how tight the table is -- all issues unrelated to the strength of the hand itself.

In a pot limit or no limit game, I hate this hand. I have no kicker, have to be very defensive and release the hand if there's any appreciable action whatsoever (unless the lfop hits me twice) so it's a hand that can cause you to lose all your money if you play it regularly.

[quickie]

In my this play is a good strategy only if the table is extremely loose and weak, i.e. you have to be certain that noone is going to fold or reraise before seeing the flop. If you are playing at such a table (very unlikely except a friendly house game or "play money" in an online room) investing one bet can yield to huge winnings when you hit your flush, mostly because the size of the pot will cause your opponents to stay in the pot with weaker hands(if the pot is over 40 bets you'll usually get called with almost anything; even gut-shot draws, medium pairs or just an overcard.)

[jorpot]

I won't even call with Ax suited. You're one of those Ace-anything callers eh?
That's just bad form.

A10 suited and AJ suited are very good hands but not raiseable..

[ballen]

Hi jorpot.What are you talking about? A anything? Axs is a great hand when played right. Now of course it depends on the game your playing .... Limit vs. No-Limit etc. makes for different reasonings for how to proceed with this hand.

I don't know what game your playing but in Limit I'm rasing AJs and better from MP on. In No Limit I'm raising A9s and above from any position and A2s and above from LP.

You probably think that your a tight player and I'm sure you are...I think I'm tight and yet I will play hands that you won't even look at. I think you need to "loosen" up a little....Keep in mind that everyone has different styles but if it works for them then it works....don't criticze others as "Ace anything players" just because they play diffent then you do.

[jorpot]

Actually, I've gone from semi-loose flush playing player to more tight recently. Getting disgusted with Ax after it never works, 99% of the time I just find it useless