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 How to play Ace with a weak kicker.
Let me start off by saying that playing Ace 9 and under at a full 8 man table is trouble. You should not mess with this hand at a full table because chances are that someone will have an Ace with a better kicker. A 9 and under should only be played at a 8 man poker table if they are suited. When Ace anything is suited you have a shot at the nut flush therefore it makes it a playable hand. However do not call a preflop raise with this hand. This is the kind of hand that you want to limp in with and see a cheap flop and hope you get lucky to hit the nut flush or to get a good draw at it. Ace 5 and under suited are also playable with a cheap flop because you have a possibility of hitting a low end straight or the nut flush. Just don’t fall in love with the Ace. If just the Ace hits don’t get the entitlement effect that so many players get. If you know youre Ace has a weak kicker and you flop it take a stab at the pot if you sense weakness if someone goes over the top of you, you are probably beat. Here is the hard part have the discipline to lay your Ace with a crap kicker down. This is where the Ace with a weak kicker usually gets poker players in trouble. They have hit top pair and just cant lay it down. If you hit the Ace your only real chance is to hit the kicker too and have two pair, however that is a long shot. Os its not so much that Ace with a weak kicker is terrible its just usually a hand that will get most poker players in trouble so it is a better poker strategy to just avoid the situation and don’t invest money in a hand that is just going to cost you chips. So play Ace nine and under at a 8 man poker table only if they are suited and you can see a cheap flop. Remember you are not playing to hit the Ace with this hand you are hoping for a lucky flop that will give you the nut flush or a low end straight.
Keep in mind that about 50 percent of preflop raises are made by someone with an Ace with a solid kicker, therefore to try and see a flop that has a preflop raise without a good kicker does not lead to anything but trouble. The only other time you may play a hand like this is if you have good position and you sense weakens at the table.
Now if you are playing at a table with less then 5 poker players on it A9 and under is actually a raise worthy hand because with such a low number of players at the table it may be the best hand. Position is always a consideration with hands like this. It helps when you are last to act so you can see how the other players react before you have to make a move.
Now in Heads up Ace anything is a great hand to raise preflop with because most of your pots are won preflop anyways and if you do get called you have the advantage of the hi card even if nothing hits. Sometimes just a hi card is enough to win a heads up match.
So A9 and under at a full table is only playable if it is suited. If you are fewer then five then you may want to play it and even raise with it in good position which is basically a semi bluff to steal the blinds, however if you do get a caller all is not lost.
If you have any other ways to play pocket Ace please join our poker forum and share your experiences with us.
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