8 replies to this topic

[wrto4556]

First, the avatar is great. I don't like you because you have it and I don't. But I will still be nice.A2o sucks....A9o sucks...don't play them unless you get a free flop from the big blind. Sometimes (SOMETIMES!) you can play A9o from the small blind or on the button...I only do it if I'm on the button and opening or if the button open/calls and i'm in the small blind.A2s should only be played in early position if the table is loose/passive.You're not playing too tight. Mucking trash is OK in my book.

[UglyJimStudly]

Unclebuck99 said:

Guys need some help here:Am I playing too tight by not playing A-2 -A9? It has to get down to 3-4 people for me to start playing those cards.

See, I think the philosophy should be exactly opposite - play good hands when there are fewer players, play speculative hands when there are lots of players. That's strictly on the basis of pot odds, if you're going to take a flyer on a speculative hand you might as well get paid well for it on those few occasions where you win.That said, I'd only consider A2 through A9 if they're suited, or if I'm in the small blind and nobody raised. Weak unsuited aces just don't have much value, I stick to AT and up when playing offsuits. Suited aces are another matter, since any flush draw is to the nut flush, with those I'll play any of them if I'm getting a lot of callers.

[Wilderness]

At a full or mostly full table, I will not limp with Axo in pretty much any position, and certainly not in early position. I may play some of the Axs in late position depending on the table. Those hands can run into trouble fairly easily from people limping with A10 or AJ in early position but can definitely be worth playing at some tables.To the guy that said that you would want to play good hands with fewer players and speculative hands with more players, that is right. But when you get down to 2-3 people Ax, even offsuit, aren't speculative hands, they are good (not great obviously) hands because they are likely ahead, so they should definitely be played and raised with in most cases short-handed.

[dms26]

I think the reason you see them played alot on TV is because you are most likely watching the WPT which is 6 handed or less. That makes an ace much more playable, or even a raising hand. At a full table A9 is garbage unless you flop 2 pair or trip 9's.

[randomization]

There's a confusion in your post between weak and speculative hands, UglyJimStudly. A speculative hand is one that has little chance of winning just by holding up or flopping a pair, but which can make a big hand. Low suited connectors or gap connectors and low suited aces are examples of these speculative hands. A weak hand is one that not only lacks strength, but also doesn't have a draw to turn into a strong hand. A9o is an example of such a hand: the only real way it can become a very strong hand is it hits two pair or trips. In general, you want to play speculative hands that have high implied odds when you've got a lot of players in the hand and you're getting to see the flop cheaply. So these speculative hands actually get weaker as you get fewer players. Weak hands want less competition: the more hands involved, the better the odds that they're dominated by a better hand (Ak vs. A9 being an example). So in a 6 handed game, your A9o becomes stronger, but your T8s becomes weaker than in a full game. I would note that one other time to play something like A9o is against a player who will play any hand that contains an ace, if it's likely that the pot may be heads up. It takes a lot of sensitivity to not only identify the player who will play any hand with an ace in it, but also to have a good idea that you'll get heads up against that player. If you're not confident you're correct about either part of the situation, you should take a pass with A9o.

[UglyJimStudly]

randomization said:

There's a confusion in your post between weak and speculative hands, UglyJimStudly.

No, there isn't, merely a lack of precision since I didn't feel a full essay on hand categories was necessary or useful. The OP grouped a lot of hands together into the same sort of playing category, and mentioned that he'd play them only when it got down to 3-4 people. Most of the hands he grouped together are what I'd call speculative (and some I'd call junk, but I know other players who consider those ones speculative, too - it ain't an exact science), so that's the shorthand I used for the whole group.