Power Hand Series #6 – I Haven’t done one in a while!
For the last little bit, i’ve been taking a break from online poker, and trying to tighten up my live cash game skills. There are so many things i like about live games, and i feel like there are huge differences in play between live poker and online poker (but that’s an entierly different post!). When I sat down at the table, and got deeper into the action, i found myself slipping back to when i first started in the game. Getting really excited when i got an off-suit KJ, or raising a nine handed table with AJ in early position.
But my biggest mis-step was over valuing a weak ace. For some reason, every time i got a shitty ace in my hand; even an ace i would easily throw away online, i couldn’t let it go. I felt like i would KNOW if another player had a bigger kicker (note: i’m much better at “reading” players online than i am live..i dont know why i forgot that), and that my losses would be minimal if i “just saw a flop.” Typically what happened to me was putting that small blind in, with 2 or 3 players would get me invested. Even more so if i hit a piece of it. If an ace hit on the flop, i would start rattling of statistics (30% chance no one else has an ace bla bla). Point is, my thinking was very flawed. I fell in love with the hand, and would talk myself into hitting just enough of the hand to lose money.
Disadvantages to playing a weak ace?
- With a weak ace, you are much more likely to lose to a better kicker. Even hands like A-10 and A-J are not “Strong” aces strictly speaking. The amount of times people have been very excited to get all their money in the middle thinking they’re getting the best of it, only to find out they’re dominated by AK /AQ. Pay attention to the betting, and if your opponent looks as excited as you feel, you may be beat.
- A weak ace becomes a winner if you flop 2 pair or better. This only happens 4% of the time. The other 24 out of 25 time you’ll flop a draw, a weak pair or nothing at all
- If you do play an ace like a-3, and happen to flop a draw, you are likely drawing to a gut-shot. This is a money pit like no other, and you can quickly get pot committed and pray for that 4 outer.
All in All, and ace is great, but be smart when playing and look at the cues the players around the table are giving you. Don’t make my mistake of falling in love with a hand and talking yourself into giving money away, and most of all don’t ever find yourself with the 2nd best hand and all your money in the middle..that’s a huge buzz kill!
