ACE NINE AND UNDER

Are you one those guys that thinks that any hand with an ACE in it is good?

You are wrong to think that. A-9 and under are TROUBLE.

I can tell you that there are a few times where you SHOULD play A-9 and under.

1. When they are suited and you can see a cheap flop. You're looking for the lucky nut flush here.

2. A-5 and under, you have a slight chance of hitting a straight.

3. When you're on the button and you sense weakness

Never, never, call a raise with A-9 under..even if you are on the button. It's just too easy for someone else to have an Ace with a higher kicker.

At an 8 or more player table, that is the only times I would play A-9 and under. And again in all three instances, it's only when I have good positioning, sense weakness and can see a cheap flop.

Now when you're table gets down to say five players, then I can see playing more A-9 and under hands. Hell, I'll even raise sometimes..because with fewer players at the table it could easily be the best hand.

Ok, let me show you why playing A-9 and under at a 10 man table can lead to trouble:

Let's say you're just right of the button and you get A-9

A couple of players before you limp-in and the action comes to you..you limp-in as well.

The Flop Hits:
A, 4, 7

Everyone checks to Josh who is forth to act. Josh clicks his auto-raise button. $20 to play.

You have top pair, you're in good position and you think that it's a moderate raise, so you call. Everyone else folds.

The turn card comes:
8

Josh checks..You come out firing. You bet the pot.. Josh thinks a little bit and calls..

The River Card:
A

Wow..you just hit a Set and you're thinking this hand is mine!

Josh lays out a big bet…even better!

You come back over the top with an All-In.

Josh calls and turn over Pocket 4's and take the pot with a Full Boat and you're gone!!

If your had a bigger hand from late position, you would been able to raise the pot enough to get Josh to muck his pocket fours. But instead, you tried to limp-in with an A-9, allowing Josh to catch a set and take you out of the game.

But even if Josh didn't have a pocket pair, he could easily had A-Q. His kicker still would of taken you out.

Don't play A-9 and under unless they're suited, you've got good positioning, and you sense weakness.

Because it's too likely that your opponents will out kick you, and it's going to be too difficult to lay down top pair after becoming pot-committed.

This strategy will save you tons of lost chips.


Joe "FlushNutz" Black

I read the article just to see the spam but it seems to have been edited out