Handling Pocket Rockets with Flair

[admin]

Accomplished Texas Hold ‘Em players know there are many strategies they can fall back on depending on whatever hole cards are deal them. Whether playing friendly, $1/$2 limit or no limit games, however, one can always hope the luck of the draw will favor them with “unbeatable” starting cards.
The desirable hole cards, subject to quite a few caveat’s, are of course the highest-value pairs and Ace-face card combinations: AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ, AQ, 10-10.

Now, what to do with the Ace pair “pocket rockets” (also called “American Airlines”, “Aces”, “Bullets” and “Eyes”)?

You still want to adopt a cagey attitude because, while everyone agrees that pocket rockets are the best possible pre-flop hand, the wrong community cards can spell disaster. Imagine a player across the table doggedly holding on to unsuited 7-3 and having to suppress his delight when the turn and river cards both turn out to be 3’s.

This is why it pays to remember expert opinion about doubled Ace having 1:3 odds of winning the pot. Very good odds but not money in the bank just yet.

One approach is to go for the kill right from the start and maximize the pot pre-flop. At the very least, you immediately scare off those who have shaky starting hands. That sounds sensible when you wish to eliminate contestants in tournament play. It is also smart strategy for limit play since the pot cannot be “maxed out”.

In no-limit play, “bullets” give you every reason to raise in virtually any table situation before the flop. Chances are good you will wind up stealing the pot. But do not over-bet and scare everyone off. Try triple the last bet or whatever the blinds have done.

Conversely, aggressive pre-flop strategy does not maximize the long-run utility of the hand if your real goal is to jack up the size of the pot that you could wind up winning. All too often, one is likely to win just the blinds with the wrong strategy.

Other worthwhile specifics from the masters:

• Provided you are likely to get called by a wider range of hands, do not be the first to move all in.

• In early position hold back every now and then. If someone raises, you can either re-raise or just call and play a flop, thereby stringing out the fish.

• Minimum raising is risky since you give the blinds odds to call you with almost any hand. You could lose a big pot to a weak hand unless you are prepared to give them up after the flop.

• Be wary of these flops: 3 suited cards, 3 connected cards (a potential straight by a rival), 2 or more face cards and mid to high paired cards. These flops should be played conservatively. If you have position then make do with a half-size pot bet. If you are raised, release.

• On the other hand, you can rest easy if you are re-raised on any all-rag flop, one high card and two low cards, Ace without two face cards or 3 to a flush, and a low pair. Go for the kill.

• Ace high flops with scare cards can win you a sizeable pot but you can also lose big. Flops with an Ace plus two suited cards or two connecting cards should be exploited energetically.

• When you are facing a flop that has an Ace but also might give someone a made straight or flush then tread very carefully.

In one case of Sit and Go play, a competitor already assured of third-place prize money as long the chip leader was victorious in the showdown had an agonizing decision to make when he received pocket rockets off the deal. In the end, he crowed, he had the discipline to fold.

Another time, the last three players at the table turned out to be holding the highest possible hole cards – AA, KK and QQ – and nothing worthwhile on the board. To the great surprise of the TV crew that had pin cameras “revealing all”, it was the fellow holding pocket rockets who folded. Talk about failure of nerve!

At Acehero.com, quite possibly the only gambling forum in the world that truly rewards our members for their valued opinions, our discussion threads cover discoveries about winning play and concrete advice about handling, for instance, pocket rockets.