How to Play Small Suited Aces Post Flop (Poker)
Playing these cards presents new dangers. When playing a suited ace you are hoping to make a pair of aces or hit a flush at the very best. Do not over value these cards as there is real potential for your suited-ace to get you into real trouble chasing cards. The fact of the matter is that you are unlikely to get much action unless you are beat. In addition chasing cards is an expensive exercise and does you no favors in building a bankroll.
Lets assume that you have a suited ace - Your hole cards are - As 9s and the flop comes Ad Ts 6s. You have top pair with a nine kicker and a flush draw. Now if you make a bet and you are raised it is still very likely that you have the best hand. In this situation you should be aggressive. You have 3 outs to make 2 pair and an additional 9 outs to make your nuts flush. Good position and you should put in the re-raise.
Lets look at another scenario. You have a flush and straight draw holding suited aces. In this case you are probably not sitting on the best hand but with 15 outs, you are a favorite to make your hand. This is where a little maths goes a long way. To put it into prospective, if you are up against AA (not the same suit that you need) you will win 63% of the time and as your opponent will find it difficult to lay that hand down you have to exploit the situation to the max.
Another reason that you should play this scenario aggressively is that players will think you are bluffing, especially when the turn brings you the nuts flush and you start raising. Keep in mind that if you miss your card on the turn you are no longer a favorite and should not raise. Just call the turn. In Low limit Hold'em you are not going to face a huge bet so use your common sense and call a medium sized bet. The situation you don't want to be in with a suited ace on fourth street is an all in bet. You are not a favorite even with a flush and straight draw, so fold in this position.
There are times when you will flop the top pair but will be beat on your kicker. You will find yourself in trouble in the scenario and should bet with caution. Top pair weak kicker is a hand that in time you will learn to fold. Playing suited aces with a low kicker is not a great hand if you hit top pair as you seldom know where you are in the hand. You are really playing the hand to hit your flush. For this reason you are a dog either which way you look at it. If you miss on the flop don't commit too many chips to the pot as there is no real potential.
For instance you hold A5 spades and the flop reads AD-JH-2C. Now lets assume that you have just seen a substantial bet. What do you do? You have top pair but your kicker is not great. Well it does depend on the situation and the players that you are up against. One way to look at it is imagine the hands that your opponent could have that would have you in trouble. Well, A-6, A-7, A-8, A-9, A-10, A-J, A-Q, A-K in addition to JJ and 22. That's 10 hands that are regularly played especially by low limit players. The moral of the story is don't over-play your ace as it is very easily beat.
Remember that when you have a drawing hand you should be calling, not raising. Too many players in Low Limit Hold'em games bet with flush and straight draws like they have made the hand already.
On a draw, raise only if you have 15 or more outs (flush and a straight draw). Again, Suited Aces post flop are only good if you improve (or have a very good chance to improve).
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