Group 4: Suited and Not Suited Unpaired High Cards

Part 4. If You Have High Unpaired Cards With Ace

Suited and not suited AK, AQ

Now we turn to hands without pairs. There are two strongest combinations among them: ace-king (big sleak) and ace-queen, which can be played almost the same as high pairs. Note that these hands are strong enough in order to (unlike smaller unpaired hands) make similar moves regardless of their suit.

In early position you are likely to raise with these hands. I use 75% of raises and 25% of calls combination. When you decide to raise, it should be three-five times higher than the big blind varying randomly of course.

In middle position you will raise oftener, possibly in 85% of cases and 15% of them call. Pay attention that with these hands you must be quite satisfied simply with winning the pot (especially if there is ante in it in addition to blinds). Bear in mind that when you get bargaining in response and cannot catch your hand on the flop you become an underdog with high chances to lose in favour of any small pair.

In late position these hands are played similarly to middle position. Raise in most cases and don’t feel upset the moment you win the pot.

Suited AJ, AT

In early position with suited ace-jack use fifty-fifty raises and calls and your raises must be as before three-five times higher than the big blind. Suited ace-ten in early position is the border hand. At a table with serious player I tend to fold these cards. At a weakling table I would be limping.

In middle position I would normally raise with suited ace-jack and vary my actions in 75% of raises and 25% of calls.

In late position those would be good hands and I’d raise seriously with all these cards.