Ace X Suited the Most Overrated Starting Hand in Atlantic City Poker Rooms

Ace x suited is a very overrated hand that most players lose money on in Atlantic City poker games. When most players are dealt this hand they are very excited. They dream of flopping the nut flush, getting all there chips in the middle and winning a large pot. However, the players today are more accomplished and this play does not happen as frequently as in the past. The main problem is that the flush on the board is staring everyone in the face. Three of the same suit is hard to miss. From 2003 to 2006 yes you could stack someone off pre flop, but rarely anymore.

Playing ace suited in early position brings many problems. If you limp in your hand cannot call a raise profitably. For this hand to be played with positive equity you need four poker players in the hand. It's hard to gauge how many players will enter the pot after you limp in from early position. And unless everyone is deep stacked calling a raise is not fiscally sound. So that being said limping in is only the correct play in few situations. On the other hand most players will not put you on a suited ace from early position, so you do have deception going for you. However to make this deception work in your favor your post flop play must be excellent.

All that being said, a suited ace can be played occasionally from the blinds as protection from getting pushed around. Your image must be strong to make this poker play. You will want to raise or re raise the original raiser. Additionally you want that raiser in late position, this way his hand range is wide, not just a big ace or premium pocket pair. You do not want to be up against a big ace. Having your ace dominated out of position is very unprofitable.

In middle position you can play ace suited more often. You will want to mix up your play with calls and raises. I do not recommend calling a raise or reraise unless you will have four or more players in the hand. What you really want to flop is two pair or a pair and a flush draw.

In late position is where you will always play this hand. Raising is a fine play but mix in some calls also. Due to the fact you are in late position you may get a few callers. You would like to get as many callers as possible, as one of the players may have smaller suited cards than you. If someone rerasises you, and it looks like a call will make you play heads up, I only recommend calling with ace ten suited or higher and ace five suited or lower. Playing this way allows you to hit straights and flushes along with two pair.

Overall to make this hand profitable you need four of more players. In Atlantic City sometimes you are at a table where everyone limps in and you see many flops. However many $1-$2 No Limit Hold Em tables are filled with former $2-$5 tight aggressive players and they are raising in position or in the blinds. If you notice that you are going to the flop with ace suited and less than four opponents it's time to slow down on your play of this hand.