Author: Clark Posted: 6/14/2006 1:53:41 PM Topic: Poker Stories and Strategies |
Thread: Playing a Suited Ace |
This was a hand that I played in a ring game on the World Poker Exchange the other night that I thought I'd share and see how other Ragged Aces might play it. Not a ragged ace as a ATs is the 15th strongest starting hand but there are still 14 better starting hands out there!
Here's the scenario:
I started the hand with an average stack size of $25.70 in the SB for .10 and was dealt AsTs
PreFlop Action UTG folds UTG+1 with $28.25 calls .25 (this player has been playing very loose but passive) fold fold MP with $41.48 calls .25 (this player is loose and aggressive pre-flop but passive post-flop) fold fold dealer folds SB (me) with $25.60 calls .15 My reasoning: with a Loose Agressive BB player to act after me and two loose/passive players already in the pot and a hand that muli-ways pretty well, I opt to limp in with my suited A and see a flop with the thought that I may call a raise if BB raises and the other two still want to play cheaply. BB with $24.75 checks (this player is loose and aggressive on all streets)
Flop Action - Pot $1 6cQsJs Flopping an inside nut straight, nut flush, and nut royal flush draw is a dream drawing hand on a path through a field full of land mines but this means I have 12-18 outs (48-72% chance of making the best hand) though an A or T might make the other guy a straight (thus the land mines)
As first to act, I check My reasoning: I'm going to play the hand no matter what, and with such a high percentage chance of making the nuts, I'm hoping one of the loose players has hit top pair and will make a significant bet for me. BB puts out a feeler bet of 1/4 the pot (.25) UTG+1 folds MP calls .25 I raise to $1 My reasoning: I don't want to play for such small stakes. If I call both players will assume I'm on a straight or flush draw and shut down if a spade hits. By check-raising I'm telling him I've got top pair as I don't want him to get away cheap and will will make him believe he can make a flush/straight draw or a bluff good against me if a spade hits on the turn/river. Otherwise, he'll just fold and I take it down with A high, not a bad thing either. BB folds MP calls
Turn Action - Pot $3.25 Ks It took me a moment for it to register that I had just hit the motherload royal flush for the first time in my poker career. So what do I do now besides thank the stars that this isn't live as my hands were shaking so bad it would have given away the strength of my hand. My goal at this point is to double up and get $25 from my opponent. How do I do that with the pot only at $3 and a scary board for anyone that only has a pair, a set, or a made/draw to the flush or straight?
At this point in time, I was pretty sure my opponent had KQ, QJ, JT, or T9 and either hit the straight or 2 pair with a small possibility that he had been drawing to the flush with small suited connectors. I didn't put him on a set or AK, AQ, AJ as he would have been raising with those hands more aggressively.

As first to act, I know how I played it, how would you play it?
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Author: christine Posted: 6/14/2006 3:00:04 PM |
At the turn, I would raise to $4, not to scare him off and then on the river either raise to $8.00 or go all in since he has a larger chip stack and would be more likely to call than if at the same level or less. | | |
~ Clark
2007 Player of the Year
2006 Ragged Aces Champion