[Rorshach]

I was hoping for some feedback on how folks here play suited Aces, specifically the big/little that fall below say A,8 or A,9.

Typically pre-flop I don't make any adjustments for position for any suited A,x. I usually call at least one bet and possibly two if its .50/1.00 or 1/2 tables. On the button at a six max table I will usually raise or certainly heads up I would. But those are really the only adjustments I make. In other words, regarldess of postion, I always at least try to limp in with any suited Ace. I generally throw away trash like A,7 offsuit or lower with the obvious adjustments for position, number and quality of players. But I can never seem to push aside those visions of nut flushes whenever I look down and see any suited A,x.

In other's opinion, is this a leak? Obviously I don't hit the flop often and end up throwing it away. I tend to not go to war with a crappy kicker. So there is little peril there of me showing down top pair with a 3 kicker..not too worried about that aspect of it. I am just wondering if I should maybe not always play any suited ace?

I haven't quite figured out if I can sort the database of starting hands with Poker Office to show only results for A,xs..so was looking for real live opinions.

[Merlin14]

Suited aces are my biggest weakness

[Matthew]

Based on the subject: being delt suited aces is not a game I want to play in.

But reading on - it seems that if your playing A-low suited and the board is A-X-X you lay it down. If that's the read you get off the other players - fine. Try raising with it sometimes in position. Hopefully, the nut flush against pocket K-Q suited will pay off for you soon.

[Merlin14]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Based on the subject: being delt suited aces is not a game I want to play in.

Yeah, that's funny, I wasn't sure what he was posting about at first either until I read further.

I'll pretty much always limp in with suited Ax, and usually at least one min raise, but that's about it. Figure any more/bigger raises there's at least a pair out there so I unless I hit the flush flop or at least a one card draw, I'm out of there. Have no idea how the statistics play out on this, I haven't read every poker book printed yet.

[MacGrad]

Originally Posted by Matthew

it seems that if your playing A-low suited and the board is A-X-X you lay it down. If that's the read you get off the other players - fine. Try raising with it sometimes in position.

Or betting it out of position, on occasion. Don't forget that you're not the only one who'll be playing A-x suited (or even A-x unsuited, depending on the table). Betting your ace on a A-x-x flop could drive out other players with A-x, because you're representing that you have an ace probably an overcard/two pair. If you're called, you're in fine shape for the turn to bet out again... if you're raised, you can feel comfortable that you're beat by two pair or outkicked.

[Rorshach]

Originally Posted by MacGrad

Or betting it out of position, on occasion. Don't forget that you're not the only one who'll be playing A-x suited (or even A-x unsuited, depending on the table). Betting your ace on a A-x-x flop could drive out other players with A-x, because you're representing that you have an ace probably an overcard/two pair. If you're called, you're in fine shape for the turn to bet out again... if you're raised, you can feel comfortable that you're beat by two pair or outkicked.

Yes, I do that on occasion for sure. I didn't mean to imply that it's an auto fold. But if I get played back at strongly, I am not one to go a showdown with a crap kicker.

Just posted this because recently I am being dealt a rash of Ace-low suited. After missing flop after flop after flop with no flush or low/high straight draw, I started to wonder if maybe I should be treating this like I treat Ace-low offsuit and play accordingly..

[yeltzen]

Yes, playing A8s, A9s is a big leak if you're limping no matter what. I will only play those in late middle position in a normal game, from any middle position in a semi-loose game, and any position in a very loose game. If I'm going to limp in middle position, I want at least 1 caller in front of me. No sense in hitting a flush against 1 opponent. You won't get paid off. In late position, I'll pretty much always raise with them hoping to steal the blinds but I'll have value if I don't. With A7s and lower I'll just limp in late middle-late position.

Don't get too excited about them. Unless you wanna lose a boatload of money.

[Timinater]

It could be a leak depending on how often you will hit that nut flush, you only need to hit that flush once to get paid off and paid back for all those bets you put in.

[pager23]

Originally Posted by Timinater

It could be a leak depending on how often you will hit that nut flush, you only need to hit that flush once to get paid off and paid back for all those bets you put in.

Possibly. If you play it ONLY for the flush - similar to playing a low pocket pair, you throw it away if you don't hit the flop. The real problem comes in when you hit the Ace... Hitting the flush once in a while can't possibly make up for all the bets you've lost playing your weak pair of Aces.

I tend to fold these hands pre-flop except from late position (and especially in limit).

[dad604]

Depends on how aggressive the game is. In early position, in a game where only a couple of players see the flop, it is not worth it to call with Ax suited. In a passive game where you have many callers and not much raising, I'll play Ax suited anytime.