Playing a Weak Ace

By Sherry Nixon

I have been playing poker for what seems like forever and before that I was a dealer. Maybe the worst dealer in history, but a dealer nonetheless. When a friend who is new to the game asked me recently for a piece of advice, one of the first things that came to mind was “be cautious playing a weak Ace.” By far it is the biggest mistake I see players make. In a tournament situation, very often it is the mistake that sends people walking.

For those of you who don’t know what a weak Ace is: It is when a player chooses his starting cards to be an Ace with a weak kicker. Anything below a Jack is what we are discussing here.

I understand completely how one can get excited to see the coveted Ace among the hole cards, but when it is coupled with a 5 or a 6, in early to middle position it could be very troublesome for you. Let’s just say you limp in, two more players behind you limp too and the SB and BB are in as well. The flop comes A 7 10 rainbow. The SB and BB check, you bet out at 1/2 the pot size and 2 players behind you call. If you miss your two pair draw on the turn what exactly are you going to do? Why did they call? What are the chances they have a stronger Ace than you and limped in with it? Pretty darn good actually, especially in late position.

If you bet the turn it is very unlikely that a player holding A 10 or AJ are going to raise you. You are the lead bettor here. How exactly are you going to know where you are in this hand? If you check the turn and one of the other players bets, what are you going to do? Call? Well then you might just as well have bet and hope to get raised if you are beat. On the river you will be praying to hit your two pair because it is the only way you can be saved.

If you must play a weak Ace, play it close to the button, or when you have a good read on the players at your table. Late position heads-up is the best situation. Or, if you accidentally limp in early position with a weak Ace, then the check raise is the only way to play it.

Lets take the same scenario again: In early to middle position, you limp with A 5 OS, two more players behind you limp too and the SB and BB are in as well. The flop comes A 7 10 rainbow. The SB and BB check, this time you check. The next player bets; the next player calls and the SB and BB fold. It is to you. If you raise here you are showing strength. If either of the two players have a weak Ace as well, or are betting/calling with their middle pair, or even betting an AJ, they will think strongly about coming off their hand to a check raise. A check raise after limping says you have hit your A 10, A 7 or trips. All very plausible. If you raised before the flop, a strong Ace would be more likely.

Remember a check raise is a pushy -in your face declaration of strength. If anyone here has a good hand and they know it, you are probably going to get re-raised. But at least you will know where you are in the hand. Which is why you did it in the first place. Of course then you will be left to wrestle with pot odds and tells, but that is in another article.

Be warned! This play is good in a tournament setting, questionable in live play and doesn’t work more than say once or twice against the same players. You can’t abuse it. Players will get the idea that they are being pushed around and they will take all of your chips and ask you to leave the table.

All in all, a weak Ace is just that -- a weak Ace. It really does take some finesse to play it and a little luck and guts to play it correctly. If I had only one piece of advice to give anyone new to the game, it would we to stay away from a weak Ace.

Sherry Nixon is a writer and professional poker player living in Atlantic City. She just completed her first novel “The Playing Fields” a suspense novel set in the mysterious world of high stakes back room poker, due out this year.