Group 5: Suited and Not Suited Unpaired Middle Cards

Part 5. If You Have Middle Unpaired Cards With Ace

Not suited AJ, AT

In early position I would simply fold not suited ace-ten and at a serious table give up ace-jack. At a table with not so serious players I would try and play ace-jack with 50% of raises and 50% of calls.

In middle position it is more difficult. In third position I would fold ace-ten anyway but play ace-jack in 70% of raises to 30% of calls. In fourth position I will play ace-jack in a similar way and begin to play ace-ten active varying raises, calls and checks in equal proportions. In fifth position I tend to raise both hands.

Suited A9, A8

When we turn to weaker hands with suited ace we find ourselves in a dangerous zone. Unlike previous hands, ace now is hardly good news, since there is a possibility of playing against ace with a higher kicker. The real power of these hands appear either when we catch nut flush on the flop or when we get an opportunity to catch nut flush or two pairs, each of these hands can win an enormous pot.

I consider ace-eight a transitional hand among all hands with aces. If my opponent will play against me any hand with ace, then there are five ace-x combinations higher than my (AK, AQ, AJ, AT, A9) but six that are lower (А7, А6, А5, А4, А3, А2). In this situation I am still in advantage with ace-eight while ace-seven make underdog of me.

In early position you should get rid of these hands (except the case when your opponents are weak players and few raises are made in preflop).

In middle position everything becomes even more difficult. If I were in a good mood at a weak table I could call with these hands in third position. Take into account that calling with these transitional hands you have to be able to play strong after the flop. In fourth position I am sure to play combining raises and calls fifty-fifty. In fifth position I would raise oftener. In late position these are raising hands as well.