Suited Aces (2)

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Suited Aces (2)

by MiiWiin

In the first part you learnt a few things about the value and preflop play with suited aces. Today, we take a closer look at postflop game. In many spots, you'll have to make tricky decisions.

Preflop calls – marginal hands

EXAMPLE 1:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25) (21 / 16 / 2.5 / 62) (VPIP / PFR / AF / ft3-bet)
Hero ($25)
SB ($25) (13 / 10 / 1.5 / 3) (VPIP / PFR / AF / 3-bet)
BB ($25) (40 / 5 / 0.4 / 1) (VPIP / PFR / AF / ft3-bet)

Preflop: Hero is BU with A , 5
2 folds, CO raises $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.25) A, 7, 4 (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $2.40, Hero...

Unfortunately, you'll come across flops like this in most spots. The actual multi-way element will be lost if you hit a top pair with a hand such as this one.

Your options are very limited. You'll be in a way ahead - way behind spot in a lot of instances. Why should you raise this hand on the flop? Well something weaker really call here? Or something stronger fold?

If you take a closer look at the cutoff, he may well tend to fold something stronger, so a raise would be equivalent to a bluff here.

Opting right for a fold is too weak, you'll be ahead on this flop against his open raising range.

The only remaining option is to call and wait and see what happens.

EXAMPLE 2:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Preflop: Hero is BU with A , 5
2 folds, CO raises $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.25) A, 7, 4 (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $2.40, Hero calls $2.40, BB calls $2.40

Turn: ($10.45) J (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $7.45, Hero folds

You need to make close decisions almost every time with top pairs without a kicker in a multi-way pot. In this situation, you can cope with the big blind's call on the flop but the preflop aggressor's 2nd barrel is very strong. He will rarely bluff a hand twice, ideally a drawing hand, which he'll play as a semi-bluff, however, you can't assume this to be the case especially often.

If you call on the turn, it will be difficult to still get out of a blank on the river. Nonetheless, you can't really invest an entire strack profitably here. You should fold your hand here.

This is one of the problems with suited aces. In the case of a top pair, you'll only be holding a bluff catcher in most instances. If this still an acceptable situation in heads-up, it will decrease in value in multi-way pots.

That's why you shouldn't pay particular attention to your actual hand strength and overplays in these hands.

Preflop calls – draws

EXAMPLE 3:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Preflop: Hero is BU with A , 5
2 folds, CO raises $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 1 fold, BB calls $1.00

Flop: ($3.25) 3, 4, T (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets $2.40, Hero...

This is a flop you like to see. You're holding a flush draw, a gutshot and a shakey (but real) overcard.

Your equity is very good here, now you can transpose the playability and assess whether a passive (implied odds) or an aggressive play (semi-bluff with expected fold equity) is better.

In general the rule is: the implied odds will prevail against several opponents in position, out of position with few opponents (possibly heads-up) you should go for an aggressive line.

The spot above is borderline. You have two opponents and you're acting in position, if you raise here, you could call a push from your opponent(s) without any problems.

The little things determine whether a call in position is a better choice. A call will keep weaker hands in, possibly weak flush draws. This is very convenient for you, especially with the passive big blind.

With hands such as these, what's decisive is that, if it comes down to a flush over flush situation, you'll always be ahead. This is an inestimable advantage, even if this spot doesn't occur to often. However, the difference between a suited ace and, for example, a suited queen, is simply immense.

3-bets

You were introduced to the option to 3-bet with suited aces in the first part. What might happen to you postflop if you do?

You can determine between three problme cases (if you hit the nuts, you know what you need to do):

You've hit a top pair, albeit without a kicker
You've hit a draw
You haven't hit anything

As always, the success of an aggressive play is reliant on existing equity and fold equity.

With a top pair and a draw you'll have equity, with a draw and a bluff, you'll need fold equity.

This means the draw is most likely to be the hand you should play most aggessively.

3-bets - draw

EXAMPLE 4:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
BU ($25) (22 / 17 / 31 / 2.5 / 65 / 14) (VPIP / PFR / PFR am Button / AF / ft3-bet / 4-bet)
SB ($25)
Hero ($25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A , 4
2 folds, BU raises $1.00, 2 folds, Hero raises $3.25, BU calls $3.25

Flop: ($6.25) 5, 6, K (2 players)

Even if you miss the board, you can work really well with your outs.

You're holding the nut flush draw, the backdraw straight draw (which isn't very valueable) and an overcard.

What does Villain's range look like? He open raises 31% from the button:

22+, A2s+, K8s+, Q9s+, J8s+, T8s+, 97s+, 86s+, 75s+, 64s+, 54s, A5o+, K9o+, Q9o+, JTo

He folds 65% to 3-bets, so he'll continue to play roughly a third of his range, thus about 10%:

88+, 44-55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, KQs, QJs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQo+, KQo

This may represent a possible range with which Villain will fight against your 3-bet steal.

Preflop

Equity analysis
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	60.35%	57.79%	5.11%	37.1%	88+, 44-55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, KQs, QJs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQo+, KQo
Player 2	39.66%	37.1%	5.11%	57.79%	A 4

You'll be behind with these preflop, but you already knew that.

On the flop

Equity analysis
Board	K 6 5
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	49.38%	48.03%	2.70%	49.27%	88+, 44-55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, KQs, QJs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQo+, KQo
Player 2	50.62%	49.27%	2.70%	48.03%	A 4

You should be the slight favourite on the flop. This means an aggressive play is essential with these kind of draws. You're even ok against a possible broke range:

Villain goes broke here with:

Slowplayed hands: AA, KK, AKo/s, KQo/s
Sets: 66, 55
Draws: QJ, T9, 98, 87

Equity analysis
Board	K 6 5
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	57.56%	57.56%	0.00%	42.44%	KK+, 55-66, AKs, KQs, AKo, KQo, QJ, T9, 98, 87
Player 2	42.44%	42.44%	0.00%	57.56%	A 4

As you can see, you're in quite a good position against his broke range as well.

The question here is always the possible play: bet/broke is possible or check raise.

A check raise is generally favourable in these spots, as Villain could bluff more often and there are even opponents who could bet/fold better hands here. Think about this check raise, but also try to balance it.

3-bets - top pair

EXAMPLE 5:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
BU ($25) (22 / 17 / 31 / 2.5 / 65 / 14) (VPIP / PFR / PFR on the button / AF / ft3-bet / 4-bet)
SB ($25)
Hero ($25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A , 4
2 folds, BU raises $1.00, 2 folds, Hero raises $3.25, BU calls $3.25

Flop: ($6.25) A, T, 5 (2 players)

A top pair in a 3-bet pot has limited appeal to you here:

Equity analysis
Board	A T 5
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	35.04%	33.58%	2.92%	63.5%	88+, 44-55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, KQs, QJs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQo+, KQo
Player 2	64.96%	63.5%	2.92%	33.58%	A 4

Unlike your draw, you've clearly got great equity here and you're favourite. However, what happens if it really goes in?

Villain will definitely go broke with:

AA, AKo/s, AQo/s, ATs+, TT, 55

His one or two suited aces A4s/A5s are also possible, he'll have to play all other hands as a bluff in order to bring them in.

Equity analysis
Board	A T 5
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	83.49%	78.99%	9.00%	12.01%	AA, TT, 55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, AQo+
Player 2	16.51%	12.01%	9.00%	78.99%	A 4

This is a slap in the face, even if it's not surprising.

Forget the phrase "top pair in a 3-bet pot also means going broke..." as this applies only to classified value 3-bets, not for 3-bet bluffs.

The possible play isn't so simple here. You can check in order to induce a bluff, the question is simply, how far you can go. Check/calling three times for a way ahead - way behind would just be too expensive.

You can also bet. However, it will be difficult after a range. You should always remember you don't have more than a bluff catcher and even the continuation bet is really only there to collect dead money, as it can hardly pass as a value bet.

3-bets – without a hit

EXAMPLE 6:

PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)

Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
BU ($25) (22 / 17 / 31 / 2.5 / 65 / 14) (VPIP / PFR / PFR am Button /AF / ft3-bet / 4-bet)
SB ($25)
Hero ($25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A , 4
2 folds, BU raises $1.00, 2 folds, Hero raises $3.25, BU calls $3.25

Flop: ($6.25) 8, 8, 6 (2 players)

Equity analysis
Board	8 8 6
	Equity	Win	Split	Loss	Hand
Player 1	65.96%	60.92%	10.09%	29%	88+, 44-55, ATs+, A5s-A4s, KQs, QJs, T9s, 98s, 87s, AQo+, KQo
Player 2	34.04%	29%	10.09%	60.92%	A 4

In situations such as these, you need to be clear that you'll rarely have three clean outs to aces, but if you do, they will also be the only ones.

Whether you want to bluff in spots like this and how you can do this, depends on your style, your image, the history and of course, your opponent. Pure bluffs are not the further goal of this column.

You should be aware: a suited ace in the 3-bet pot as a drawing hand has the highest value. You need to play this aggressively, in order to generate a +EV play from the combined equity and fold equity.

You'll be fighting against windmills with a top pair, provided your opponent only continues to play his value range. You're lost at sea without any kind of hit and all that's left is a pure bluff without any real outs.

4-bets

In part 1, you've already seen that suited aces are well suited for a bluff.

All the other advantages and disadvantages as well as possible plays in 4-bet pots, can be found in the following '4-Bet Bluff' columns:

4-Bet Bluffs (1) - Theory I

4-Bet Bluffs (2) - Theory II

4-Bet Bluffs (3) - Theory III

4-Bet Bluffs (4) - Out of Position

4-Bet Bluffs (5) - In Position

» SUMMARY

You've now had a look at the suited aces and scrutinised their equity and playability. You have a lot of options, however, it's precisely these hands which are very hard in variance, as the border between a weak dominated hand and a hand drawing the nuts is more fluid.

These hands won't play themselves, you need to work out what a suitable play is in each spot. Sadly, there's no standard guidelines here.

LINKS

Related article:

Suited Aces (1)