Folding
pocket Aces pre-flop. Are you crazy? Not necessarily.
I
wrote this article in mid-March 2006. I guess you could
say it talks about a situation where the "natural
instinct" is to go all-in without a second thought.
Though as you read the article, it might make you think
a little differently. Either way, something to think
about for your own tournament poker strategy.
Do
you have the discipline to fold pocket aces before the
flop? Imagine the scenario. You're playing Texas hold'em
poker in a single table sit-and-go tournament. It's
getting towards the latter stages, five players are
left and you can smell an in-the-money finish.
But
you need to get in to the top three and stay there -
while your chip stack would be nice if it was bigger.
The blinds are becoming significant and you know you'll
have to make your move soon. Out come the cards - miracles
of miracles, you look down at your cards and see the
magic AA looking back at you. Now, surely this means
it's you right to win the hand. Announce "I'm all-in"
and become the chip leader.
Now,
under most circumstances there's no doubt that you should
either push in a tasty raise or even all-in with those
big aces. Although remarkable as it may seem, there
are times to fold those "pocket rockets" and not see
a flop. It takes discipline to do and is all about risk
versus reward. If you're playing single table sit and
go tournaments you must finish in the first three to
get a return on your entry fee. We all know that the
great starting hands don't come along too often and
when they do, a lot of players become married to the
hand and can't put it down under any circumstances.
The
savy player knows when to fold. And that includes folding
AA pre-flop. Here's when to consider very carefully
when to muck those aces before the flop.
Free Texas Holdem Poker Ebook - winning sit and go tournament poker strategy
Back to the scenario. Five players left, you're in fourth
place with those Aces screaming at you to push your
chips in. But you have the advantage being in last position
to act. Two players with bigger stacks than you throw
enough chips in the pot to force you all-in if you decide
to play. And now the small stack in fifth place takes
his chances and goes all-in. The action is now on you.
The urge to splash your chips in to the middle is irresistible.
But
before you do - this about it for a moment. As things
stand, you can fold your aces now with the chance of
moving in to third place and a money finish without
risk. If the player in the hand with the biggest stack
wins it, he'll take out the other two with smaller stacks
and you instantly get bumped up to third place and guaranteed
money without. And without risking any of your chips
which you still have to fight with.
Risk
= zero. Reward = third place at least and a guaranteed
prize money. That's when to fold anything pre-flop,
not just aces. Throw anything away at any stage if it
means you can move in to the money without risk.