The best hand you could receive when you play poker is pocket aces (AA). And while many prefer to lament how often they lose with it, the truth is that AA will be your most winning poker hand by a wide margin over the long haul.
So, having a sound playing plan is advised more so than with any other starting hand in this game. A clear strategy for when to fold it is also a smart idea.
This article will provide some strategies for playing with these poker cards.
Strategies for Playing Pocket Aces
Raise Pre-flop
You must understand that playing pocket aces against several opponents is not a good idea. It’s best to play them on a heads-up game.
“Limping in” in an early position is a risky poker strategy you should avoid using. After all, if you do limp, you can find yourself up against a lot of competition on the flop, so you’ll need to be ready to fold your hand to any serious action unless you hit your set.
Therefore, never limp in and attempt to be sneaky; instead, always try to raise with pocket aces. It lets other players know that you’ve got a big hand but not how large it is, and if they call, it helps to define their holdings.
Don’t Play Pre-flop Slowly, but Also Don’t Go Overboard
It’s crucial to swiftly build the pot when you have pocket aces in your hand. You want to increase the pot, but you shouldn’t overbet or go outside of your comfort zone. Consider the stakes you are playing at before selecting just how much to bet. Your raises should be within other hands that could be in your range.
Take Time When Facing a Re-Raise
After raising pre-flop, you assume other players would call or fold. A player who re-raises either plays more aggressively or has a strong sense of self-confidence. In this circumstance, calling to proceed to the flop against an aggressive player is acceptable. Although most players claim they have never folded a pair of aces before to the flop, you can fold if the player is more of a nit, mainly if their bet is highly substantial.
You can learn more about the hand of the player who re-raised you by calling to see them through to the flop. Yet, it’s crucial to remember that after the first three communal cards are dealt, even marginal hands can significantly strengthen. Hence, you shouldn’t become very excited and call someone down to the river.
For example, if a player with a range of J-10 or higher re-raises you, they may have the chance to build two pairs, straight draws, flushes, and other strong hands that will defeat pocket rockets at the showdown. Thus, pay great attention to the board’s texture, and don’t try to out-raise your opponent merely because you were dealt pocket aces. Act accordingly and remember that a flush or straight draw could occur.
Don’t Play Too Passively Post-flop
You often want to play quickly when you flop a powerful hand, which you typically do with aces, to grow the pot as soon as possible.
You can enlarge the pot to your preferred size once you have the opportunity to gamble. By checking, you offer your opponent that advantage. They can increase the pot’s size with their wager or not. Players will often wager less frequently than they would have called against your bet.
Making a bet also compels your opponent to provide information about their hand. For instance, if they call, you will know they have successfully connected with a board piece. In contrast, if you check and they respond by checking, you would have learned little about their hand.
This strategy can be used best in a heads-up pot, while passive play with pocket aces can be done in multi-pots.
Be Ready to Make a Few Hero Fold After a Flop
It is essential not to be overly dependent on pocket aces. While it’s generally true that you shouldn’t fold aces before the flop, it’s also crucial to remember that it’s OK to do so, especially later on in the hand. However, there are situations when folding is the most effective pocket ace strategy.
Don’t Get Too Tricky
Players frequently fear they won’t get any action when dealt with pocket aces, therefore slow playing the hand is their option. While this may be acceptable in some circumstances, it can also complicate matters and make it more likely that your aces will be exposed.
Try to keep your “rockets” gameplay as simple as possible. You can do this by raising considerably more frequently than you should call.
Why Are Pocket Aces Considered a Good Hand?
One of the strongest hands in Hold ’em poker game is an Ace. When against any random hands, pocket aces will win at showdown around 85% of the time, with the right strategy.
However, some hands can still beat this pair when they improve at showdown, including two pairs, straights, flushes, full houses, three-of-a-kinds, and quads.
Conclusion
Being dealt with pocket aces is a 1 out of 221 hands, and if you get the chance, try to play these hands with a good strategy. You can always raise pre-flop, fast play your hands, or take time considering when an opponent re-raises. Although folding is not often an option in pre-flop, consider a situation where you think a hero fold after the flop will become necessary. By taking the time to understand more about this hand, you can implement a much better strategy in the right situation.
