Slowplaying Pocket Aces

[jayman2411]

You may have heard countless times from mediocre poker players about how easily their aces got cracked. Usually, its the result of slowplaying them so why am I writing an article on slowplaying AA? Is Sun Tzu trying to get you owned at the poker table? Shouldn't we just forget about the whole idea? Well, not if you follow Sun Tzu's principle that all warfare is based on deception.

"Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near." - Sun Tzu

When properly slowplayed, AA are very deceptive and very profitable. Most of the time, you should play your pocket aces strong. You seldom need to slowplay AA except when the right conditions are met. Okay, say you are sitting in late position. A tight aggressive player raised 4BB from early position. Everyone folded to you and you are holding those bullets. You can call here with AA. Re-raising here screams KK or AA, but calling here makes him think you are holding a small pocket pair or suited connectors, trying to get lucky on the flop.

Usually, the flop will suggest either a straight or a flush draw possibility, enabling you the chance to play like a calling station. Of course, if your image is that of a tight aggressive player and your opponent is the observant type, then a call appears very fishy so you may want to reraise here.

Usually, your opponent will put you on a draw if you call his bet on the flop and he will make it expensive for you to outdraw him. The beauty of this strategy is that your opponent is the one who is on the draw, not you, and he is making it very expensive for himself to draw! Even a straight or flush draw has at least 8 outs, but your opponent usually have at most 2 outs.

If, instead of slowplaying your aces, you had reraised preflop, then chances are your opponent holding JJ, QQ, AK or AQ will fold as you are representing KK or AA and their hands are dominated. In addition, even if he had called, very likely he will check to you on the flop rather than doing his continuation bet.

Mathematically, againsts pocket aces, pocket queens has only 18.55% chance of winning and mostly due to hitting a third queen. The remaining 81.06% of the time, just sit back, relax and let your opponent do the betting for you!

[mundybags1]

i have a story about slow playing AA. i was in a mtt yesterday and i never slow play AA but i was utg and i have heard of people limping in this position to make a reraise if someone raises. anyways i was at a pretty aggressive table and i did get AA utg and i limped hoping for this situation to happen and it didn't. the flop come down 3 10 3 and the sb and bb checked to me. i bet about 1/2 pot and the sb called me. the turn came down the 3rd heart to give me the nut flush draw. he checks again and i put him all in. he had 83 for 3/3s and i luckly hit the flush on the river, but i have learned that i really shouldb't limp with AA unless i am 100% sure that someone will raise which is almost never. anyways lesson learned right!

[Calmplay]

Yeah, slowplaying them will result as you're playing a limit game and we all know that the strength of AA in limit games is less than in No Limit games.

[Dodgey]

I understand there can be nuances where slow playing aces may maximise profits but in my experience it usually leads to tears. That said if you are against 2 or 3 remaining players preflop then pushing hard with them is pretty much guaranteeing a poor return.

A pair is just a pair. I play Aces so that I'll be against one or two people, then slow right down if the board is dull, to maximise the pot. If the board gets fruity I push harder to either find out where I stand and fold if need be, or to again maximise the pot.

For all the strategy, I'd choose goign all in preflop against ONE person over clever board play. At least you are in the lead at the point you make the decision.

Currently I raise the same as I'd raise any other hand and see what the table does, except in early position where I raise hard.

[KeepBlinkin]

pocket aces also depend on how many players are involved on the pot. And the preception they have from you.

[johnnas]

yeah, i would like to go with them. but guess it depends on situation of table

[Assistanc3]

playing poker is not warefare is strategic gambling

of course AA can be slow played, but its not about your deception to do it, its only based on the players at your table...

slow playing aces to a call train table, will get busted easier
....so don't do it then

slow playing aces on a tight table or peticular player is when


a lot of people have a problem of folding aces
slow playing them or not, if your hand does not look overly strong on a flop, why donk your chips off to someone how hits trip 5's when the flop comes down 5h 7d 10d
count the outs if someone has 98d...

thought to think
if player a has the above board 5h 7d 10d
and flips his cards 9d 8d and then says all in
do u call with AA ?