5 Ways To Go Broke With Pocket Aces in No Limit Texas Hold’Em Poker
Pocket aces are great. I play poker every single day, thousands of hands each week, and looking down at two Aces in the whole is still awesome. Yet, I’ve seen many people lose their complete stack in a single hand — the tightest players on any table will go broke with their aces, blinded for possible drawing hands that probably have them beat.
Here are my most favorite ways of seeing people lose with their Weapons Of Mass Destruction:
- Slowplaying Aces pre-flop.
Don’t make a habit of slowplaying Aces. As Dan Harrington said: just call only a marginal percentage of the time, and when you do — try to do it with aggressive players behind you. You don’t want 5 people limping in to a pot. You want one, maximum two players in the hand. This is VITAL for the strength of your aces after the flop!
- Not keeping your head straight.
Yes, your aces are strong — but you can’t stop paying attention. Keep studying the board and the players around you — trying to stay on top of the game. Think about what kind of hands beat you, and if they’re likely to have called your raise pre-flop. Keep in mind that against aces, looser opponents are more dangerous than people playing only premium starting hands. With a J94 flop, the solid player made AJ tops (or a set). The loose player may have flopped J9 — and your aces might be in serious trouble. - Checking after the flop.
With aces; BET. Make a continuation bet if nobody has bet the flop, and raise if someone else has bet into what seems to be a safe flop. Define your hand. Checking is giving free cards, and it’s stupid. Not raising is stupid to, unless against a very aggressive opponent, who might keep bluffing at a pot when he thinks you’re weak. Keep in mind though — he’s getting free cards too, so you’re taking a risk. - Putting someone else on a set.
Yes, someone may have flopped a monster — but it’s unlikely. Decide on the flop whether or not you put someone on a set — it’s the right time. If he bets out, you raise, and he comes over the top. Make your decision based on his image and your instinct. Same when you get check-raised. Don’t second-guess, it’s the wrong play. Once you feel he hasn’t flopped a set, stick to it.
- When it’s obvious your aces are beat — lay them down!
4-card flushes and straights on the board are typical situation you don’t want to see. Let your hand go if you are facing a big bet in these situations. Yes — the other guy might be bluffing, but he’s probably not.
Aces are great — don’t spoil the fun yourself! 