Pocket Aces

Pocket Aces are like being launched off the deck of an aircraft carrier. Your going 0-150mph in three seconds. Then you slow down to the point that you feel as if you will fall out of the sky. Until you realize it is just the natural acceleration of the plane taking over lifting you higher and, higher.

There are some who may contend that AK suited is as good a starting hand as the Pocket Aces. The odds of AA pre-flop are 1 in 221. Odds of AK suited are 1 in 332. Even though it is much more rare that you will receive AK suited pre-flop it pales in comparison to the raw power of the pocket Aces. According to Harrington pocket Aces will win heads up against any two cards about 85% of the time and, will beat any smaller pocket pair about 82%. If you opponent has connectors, suited connectors or, suited cards your odds drop to about 73%.

Betting the pocket Aces pre-flop can be difficult. You should raise enough to discourage opponents who might be on a straight or, flush draw but, not so much as to give away the strength of you hand. If you are in good position, the button or, cut off a raise or, re-raise of 3.5x to 4x big blind should be enough to isolate opponents and possibly even take down the pot pre-flop. However, in early UTG or, middle positions a larger bet 6x-10x big blind maybe necessary to take down a pot pre-flop. Depending on your stack size and, your opponents’ tendencies pushing all in is generally a good move from the small, big blind. A good hand in bad position is often worse than a poor hand in good position.

Pocket Aces are always the best hand pre-flop. After the flop it becomes important to know when to get away from them. If you are forced to call an all in pre-flop and, your opponent sucks out at least you can take comfort in knowing that you got your money in good. Even though this may not be much consolation. You should know that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. If you’re playing a solid game the odds and, luck will eventually swing your way moving you forward.

Poker is a game that takes a few minutes to learn and, a lifetime of experience to master. Pocket Aces can be can be one of the most problematic hands to play because it is so hard for the average player to lay down. Remember that even though you have the nuts pre-flop, on the flop or, on the turn it does not mean you will have the nuts on the river. When you learn when to lay down the big pocket pairs you will have mastered a part of the game that will raise your play to a new level. If you have KK on the first hand at the WSOP and, Phil Ivey says "Let’s gamble" and, pushes all in, fold. He isn’t bluffing.

BuddBuzz is a member of TheRoundersRoom.com, the best poker forum on the Net. Visit our forum to learn more about poker strategy and find the best poker bonuses available.