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Topic: Question: how do you play AA (pocket aces) in poker, Pre-flop? (Read 1069 times)

hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
LIR Dev. www.letitride.io
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

For a newbie to poker you answered your own question which is good. When you play slow you are giving more players the chance to get in the hand with half assed hands like 7-9 suited etc etc Each player in the hand reduces your chances of winning the hand obviously so when you play aggressive with them you are doing yourself a favor. A very good poker player once told me he would prefer AK than aces his reason was you know where you stand with AK and it is easy to put down when needed. AA is another story isn't it? lol. Over all i think you are best with playing how you feel like but imo your doing it right!  


AK is my best hand. in this hand you can get also straight, and if its suited I can get a flash.
About AA... Hmmm.. I think its a real killer hand, but you can lose all your chips with it.

That is a nice hand and actually my favorite in spades. There is no doubt it is a killer hand for both for and against. I have lost more with that hand than any other. My play for awhile has been bet very big at each road depending what flops and that seems to be helping. If others have decent hands the pressure is on them to fold. Many can't fold jj qq kk pre flop so it works and narrows the hands you will be against.
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
the best way to play pocket aces in poker is just act like you don't have it. for example like you just call and check. let other players be aggresive and when the river come go all in and enjoy your winning.

That sounds like a great way of winning a lot of small pots and losing a lot of big ones.

I also think its the worst way to act.
The less people see the flop- the more chances to win the hand.
If all the 9 players calls, the odds you win the hand with AA are very very low.
legendary
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1333
the best way to play pocket aces in poker is just act like you don't have it. for example like you just call and check. let other players be aggresive and when the river come go all in and enjoy your winning.

That sounds like a great way of winning a lot of small pots and losing a lot of big ones.
legendary
Activity: 2436
Merit: 1804
guess who's back
there is no simple answer mate but you know AA is the best hand in poker you will be ahead of your opponents at least 60%
so when you are dealt aces you should think about how you can get the max value from them
if you don't have a good experience never slow play them , but when you are good slow playing is good especially in tourneys when you have 20 BBs or less
legendary
Activity: 2156
Merit: 1082
depend of the game, if i play in freeroll, nodoubt, when have AA in preflop go all in , but if is pay tournament or face to face, depend of more option, number of player, aggressivity of other player, more time with AA i only check
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

For a newbie to poker you answered your own question which is good. When you play slow you are giving more players the chance to get in the hand with half assed hands like 7-9 suited etc etc Each player in the hand reduces your chances of winning the hand obviously so when you play aggressive with them you are doing yourself a favor. A very good poker player once told me he would prefer AK than aces his reason was you know where you stand with AK and it is easy to put down when needed. AA is another story isn't it? lol. Over all i think you are best with playing how you feel like but imo your doing it right! 


AK is my best hand. in this hand you can get also straight, and if its suited I can get a flash.
About AA... Hmmm.. I think its a real killer hand, but you can lose all your chips with it.
legendary
Activity: 1582
Merit: 1059
It depends on my mood

Ideally you dont want to make plays on how you feel unless you are playing just for fun which is fair enough Smiley

I played depending on my mood when I first started playing, and it wasn't to great.
When I get lucky I would win huge amounts because no one took me serious lol, and my good hands payed off, but in the long run it was a bad idea.
Then i started learning the game and, for good or for worse I can justify all my plays.
I can play on mood if I am playing with friends just for fun, but even then I mixed it with "normal" play, because I just like the game to much to just play based on mood.
hero member
Activity: 546
Merit: 500
It depends on my mood

Ideally you dont want to make plays on how you feel unless you are playing just for fun which is fair enough Smiley
legendary
Activity: 1666
Merit: 1001
It depends on my mood, but usually i used lure tactic, its mean i wont raise any of the bet in first round of betting, then after the 3 cards lay down i will raise a little and in the end of the bet i will raise high or even all in
hero member
Activity: 546
Merit: 500
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

It depends, but in most cases you should try and inflate the pot and make other players pay since you have the better hand.

There are scenarios where you should limp or flat call 3bets/4bets etc pre flop.  Obvious examples... You might limp when in a hyper turbo SNG with only 7 bbs for example.

You want to do whatever makes maximum EV basically.
legendary
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1002
Check Check Check Risex3 Fold FUCK  Cheesy
sr. member
Activity: 420
Merit: 250
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

the best way to play pocket aces in poker is just act like you don't have it. for example like you just call and check. let other players be aggresive and when the river come go all in and enjoy your winning.
legendary
Activity: 1176
Merit: 1017
Okay...There are several things that need to be considered when deciding how to play your rockets.  First, what is your table image....that's something you set up from the moment you take your seat.  Second, what size table are you playing....is it short handed or full ring.  Third, and probably most important POSITION, POSITION, POSITION.

AA is an excellent starting hand but it is still only a small favorite in a seven card game.  Don't slow play your rockets...you want to protect your hand and isolate the board to only a few players pre-flop.  Once the flop hits (depending on your position and the information you gather from it) continue your aggression...try to take the pot before showdown!
legendary
Activity: 1470
Merit: 1002
Whatever pair even AA ive got, i wont go for all-in. Ive always wait the first 3 flop open and raise 1/3 of my balance.
Or maybe i will wait other player to raise Smiley

i also wont go for all in, if possible, i will see how other bets first and den follow in the first round. cuz after the 3 cards shown, it will be much more clearer what is ur winning chances. AA is usually very high chance of winning at the start but the first 3 cards will chance the probability a lot.
legendary
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1016
yah, even having an AA wont promise you an easy win. and those who follow the raised bet also do have very beautiful hand. i wont rise too high but after seeing the first 3 card dealed den i will be more aggressive.
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1000
The Golden Rule Rules
It's strictly opponent dependent.

1. If yous opponent is a CS (Calling station), then you should bet/raise more.
2. If it's aggressive, you could only limp to induce Raise and then you will Re-Raise.

and many more options. You should observe your opponents and play accordingly.



I never usually go all in unless short stacked. The idea is you
want to at least some calls. Its sucks to go all in and watch
everyone fold and all you get is the blinds. 

But it does depend on how the other players play. If there is crazy
raisers and everyone is bumping the pot up I will let others raise it
up then come in super strong with a big bet to weed out all the calls.

You guys are spot on.  However I wouldn't say I want "some calls", because having pocket AA against 2 other callers (that are competent players) with random hand is not a great proposition depending on your stack sizes.  I would want either to be heads up against a fish, or 3 handed against a good player in bad shape (AK, AQ, KK>) and a random fish. 
legendary
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1002
It's strictly opponent dependent.

1. If yous opponent is a CS (Calling station), then you should bet/raise more.
2. If it's aggressive, you could only limp to induce Raise and then you will Re-Raise.

and many more options. You should observe your opponents and play accordingly.

sr. member
Activity: 308
Merit: 250
❃ CyberNick ❃
Whatever pair even AA ive got, i wont go for all-in. Ive always wait the first 3 flop open and raise 1/3 of my balance.
Or maybe i will wait other player to raise Smiley
legendary
Activity: 1442
Merit: 1000
I never usually go all in unless short stacked. The idea is you
want to at least some calls. Its sucks to go all in and watch
everyone fold and all you get is the blinds. 

But it does depend on how the other players play. If there is crazy
raisers and everyone is bumping the pot up I will let others raise it
up then come in super strong with a big bet to weed out all the calls.
legendary
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1016
if you go all in, many will flop and u cant win a gd amount with great cards. you should be aggressive to raise the pool but let one or 2 rounds to see how the others r doing as well.
hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
LIR Dev. www.letitride.io
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

For a newbie to poker you answered your own question which is good. When you play slow you are giving more players the chance to get in the hand with half assed hands like 7-9 suited etc etc Each player in the hand reduces your chances of winning the hand obviously so when you play aggressive with them you are doing yourself a favor. A very good poker player once told me he would prefer AK than aces his reason was you know where you stand with AK and it is easy to put down when needed. AA is another story isn't it? lol. Over all i think you are best with playing how you feel like but imo your doing it right! 
hero member
Activity: 1050
Merit: 502
Obviously if you can, you want to get it all in pre flop. But you also don't want to waste good value if all your opponents fold to that bet. It really depends on position, if its a tourney or cash game, how many opponents ect... I would for sure raise and try to isolate 1-2 players and go from there. If they re-raise its an easy shove.
legendary
Activity: 1582
Merit: 1059
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?

It really depends on many factors. Who are you playing against, the number of players you could be facing on the flop if you slow play you aces etc
AA is the best hand you can get preflop but it can't handle many players on the flop, as most poker hands, so if you slow play them, and see yourself against more than 3 players, you could be in trouble,

I hardly slow play any hand in poker, so I will do the same with my aces. You should balance your style of course not to be predictable, but slow paying should be done rarely in my opinion.
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
You said right things guys.
Now when I think about it, it depends on a lot of things such as your position, your amount of chips, what are the blinds etc.
I think to bet 3-5 times of the big  blind will scare all the "weak" preflop hands.
full member
Activity: 180
Merit: 100
Most of the time, you should be raising pre-flop with your pocket aces from any position. Raising allows you to narrow the field down to only one or two opponents when you hit the flop and at the same time put more money into the pot. You call a pre-flop raise with this hand only on the rare occasions when it is a good time to slow-play those aces.


hero member
Activity: 672
Merit: 502
Its the strongest pre-flop hand and naturally most players do go 'all in' but it also depends on the situation of the game, if you're losing on the table you should go all in and maybe you'll bounce back but if you're in a better position on the table, meaning you have good amount of chips compared to others then you should play it slow, maybe raise a little and then play normally.

I have won more on Pocket Aces when playing slow and luring the other people in as compared to going all in because a lot of the time when you go all in others simply fold and then you waste a very good hand.
hero member
Activity: 840
Merit: 1000
I think many pros will be all-in with AA, or do a 3 bet or more in pre-flop, cause they can't allow too many draw hands to see the flop or more rounds, sometimes AA is beaten by flush or straight, so raise a big bet is the best way to protect the best hand-AA.

If i am in the UTG position, i would do a 3-5 bet, i don't wanna be allin cause i can just earn a little, most players will fold if i am all-in
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
I'm a new poker player and I would like to know what is your best way to play pocket aces in poker.
In my small experience, most of the time when I played slow, I lost. And when I played aggressive, I won, but a small pot.
What are your opinions?
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