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FCP Poker Forum > Poker Strategy Forum > No Limit Texas Hold'em Cash Games
Pot Odds RAC
I tend to limp in, even out of position, with a weak (8 thru 2) ace...

My issue with weak aces is even if we catch part of the flop (either the Ace or the kicker) we are not able to withstand any action nor really initiate the action.

Should I be folding weak aces more often pre flop?
kes1981
That is a huge leak long term. Don't play them unless your raising. Even if you raise, drop them vs resistance (see why they suck). I usually fold them in the SB with limpers. Just not worth the headache.
David_Nicoson
QUOTE (Pot Odds RAC @ Friday, December 29th, 2006, 3:55 AM) *
Should I be folding weak aces more often pre flop?

Yes.
krup24
definitely a big leak. easy to fix though.
cheetaking
I agree... a big leak. Limping and calling small raises with weak aces will cost you TONS of chips. Me personally, I use the following theory for deciding when to enter a pot.

Don't enter the pot pre-flop unless:

1. You are raising

2. You are willing to call a raise after limping

3. You are in late position and are calling because you have the proper odds.


Weak aces aren't good enough to raise with unless you're in late position and nobody's limped in before you, there's no way you are calling someone else's raise with them, and ace high is definitely not an odds hand, because every time you hit the hand it will be very obvious, and you will only get called by hands which have your top-pair-weak-kicker beat. I'd personally rather see you playing suited connectors than A/2 through A/9.

By limping in with weak aces, these are the most common results you're going to get.

1. You are raised pre-flop, and have to fold them. (very common)
2. The flop hits an ace, but you have a lower kicker than someone else and lose a ton of chips figuring it out. (about 1/10 times, but very very costly when it happens.)
3. You hit the flop, but you barely win anything because nobody else has anything. (very common)
4. You miss the flop and have to fold, and can't bluff at it because you just limped in pre-flop and now the pot is small with a lot of players, and therefore too risky to bluff at. (most common)
5. Someone calls with a draw, and you are forced to back off out of fear that you are out-kicked. (common)
6. You hit a lucky flop, hitting 2-pair, and someone else has a higher ace and will pay you off (maybe 1/60)
7. You hit a luckier flop, flopping a low set, and catch someone with top pair. (1/100 at the most)
David_Nicoson
QUOTE (cheetaking @ Saturday, December 30th, 2006, 2:27 AM) *
6. You hit a lucky flop, hitting 2-pair, and someone else has a higher ace and will pay you off (maybe 1/60)

Even when you do hit the two pair, the bigger ace has a bunch of outs to outdraw you.
cheetaking
True, True. Then that's just even more proof.
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