Pocket Aces in Limit Hold ‘Em

By Lance Whinery
8-15-06

Anytime you stumble across pocket Aces on FullTilt.net, you’re in great shape. If the game is Limit Hold ‘Em, however, where you and your opponent can only bet and raise in one set increment, this is no time for slow play and trickery. Because you can’t make huge protective bets, Limit Hold ‘Em is a game where it is very difficult to push people out of pots when the board looks threatening. In addition, you can’t cover the difference of a small, slow-played pot in the later streets with a large, deceptive bet. That’s why in Limit Hold “Em, I like to raise straight out pre-flop with a monster hand and take any opportunity to raise, regardless of how strong it makes my hand look.

The reasoning is this will do two things. First, thin the herd. That’s fine if many players are scared off. The truth is, while AA is the best starting hand you can have, if you put it up against nine other random starting hands it is more likely to end up a loser than a winner. Eliminate those limpers who want to see cheap flops and then crack you when they hit two pair. Secondly, you want to feed the pot as much as you can against the players who do stay in. Once you’ve got the playing field to just a couple other opponents, you are back to being a huge favorite. Get as much money in there as possible before they start seeing cards on the board that can’t help them. Remember, once they feel they are beat, you’re not getting anymore of their chips in the pot.

At the flop, odds are I am still most likely holding the best hand, and I like to continue to bet right out. Some people might wonder if trying a check-raise might be the better move if in early position. Maybe, if you’re positive there’s a bet coming by the next player to act and you can get a few calls in before you do. But understand you may have players who after seeing the flop would love to see another card before putting more money in. If they can check it around, great. If they can get by and call one bet, okay. So what happens if you check in early position, and it checks around to the button before there is a bet and now you’re the next to act? After you raise, you might have players who were willing to call one bet but not two, and you’ll most likely not get anything more than the call of the original better. If those players were ready to call just one bet and they called yours, and if that better raises and you re-raise, others can fold after at least throwing some money in. Even if the one who would have bet just calls, you still have a richer pot. Obviously, if you are later to act, then by all means, bet and don’t slow play like you might in No Limit. When you’re holding AA there should be no free cards for people to improve. Why should there be? By the time it gets to the turn or the river, often the players staying in and adding money are players that either hit a better hand or will be priced in to call their draw since you can’t bet them out. Let people know you are serious and it will cost them if they remain.

Keep in mind though that Aces can be beaten. Pay attention to the board. If you have two black Aces and the flop comes three hearts, understand there is potential danger. Maybe two Kings comes out and with three other players, odds are somone’s now made trips. If someone re-raises your raise after the turn or river, don’t be afraid to slow down and simply call their next bet instead of getting into a raising war. There’s probably too much in the pot to drop your killer starting hand now, but you can at least play it a little more safe if someone has better luck.