The hand I hate most in no-limit hold’em
The hand I hate most?
A9o.
For the uninitiated–who don’t know the notation–that’s Ace-Nine of different suits, such as Ace of spades and Nine of hearts.
Now, I don’t hate A9o all the time. Short-handed, or heads-up, i.e., mano a mano, or even from late position–when I’m trying to steal the blinds–it can be a real powerhouse. (When I’m trying to steal the blinds and one or both of the blinds call, at least I have something to play if they disappoint me and call. But I’m still hoping they don’t call.)
72o is reputed to be the worst hand in hold’em, at least in a ring game. (A ring game is a game with a full table. In heads-up play, 32o is actually the worst.) However, though it may be annoying to get dealt 72o, I know what to almost always do with that hand: Fold. And, if I happen to play it (yeah, there are times I play it, but that’s fodder for another post), it’s not that bad because on the rare times it hits it can do two things:
- 1) It can score a large pot.
- 2) If the hand makes it to a showdown, it leaves my opponents wondering, "Just what it is that he plays?"
How can it score a big pot? I’ve had flops of 72x and 227 fall and no one believed I hit. Made a lot of money each time.
However, that said, I still don’t play 72o much at all.
But, when A9o falls in my hole cards…
It looks so tempting. But what are its strengths?
- It has an Ace.
One the other hand, what drawbacks does it have?
- If you hit an Ace, you have a middling kicker. What can you do with it? Any kind of betting means you’re probably beaten.
- If a Nine falls, you have to worry about higher cards falling (other than another Ace) that can make a better pair.
- It takes four cards on the board to make either a straight or a flush.
The only time you can feel comfortable is if an Ace and Nine fall together on the flop giving you two pairs, or a pair of Nines fall giving you trips with best kicker. And, if two Aces fall, good. But if someone else is holding an Ace with a better kicker…
I hate it more than I hate K9o. K9o isn’t as tempting as A9o. It’s easier for me to fold. And, if I do play it, the flop can make me a miracle straight.
So, from most positions, I’d rather be dealt 72o than A9o. As I said, at least I know what to do with 72o.
Being dealt A9s (that’s Ace-Nine of the same suit) is another story. I can play that like any Axs, where "x" is a low-card kicker, and, with enough callers I’m hoping to hit the flush or the flush draw with the added benefit of hitting two pairs or trips.
As I learn more about no-limit hold’em, my least favorite hand may change. But this is it, for now.
What’s the hand you hate most?
March 24th, 2008 at 11:21 am
This may surprise you but the hand I hate most varies between AKo and KK!!
Even in a no limit game when you can come out screeming with a nice fat, discouraging bet, your AKo or KK preflop raise will be called by the lucky fish sitting there with 44 or 55 (and one time, with 10 5 suited; his argument was, believe it or not, ALL straights contain one of those two cards and since he made his straight I couldn’t really argue with him) … anyway, some small to medium pair or medium sized connectors like 67s or 78s. When the flop comes and pairs them with something (anything, really) they are “in for life”. Bet whatever you want on the flop and the player who has 78, e.g. who has now made a pair of 7’s or the fishie with 44 or 55 who doesn’t see an Ace or a King on the flop will call you down to the river.
Frustrating!
If I make a continuation bet and am called I know I am dead in the water unless an ace or king comes on the river.
With KK it’s the same…you get called by the big blind with ANY Ace holding and then it’s like magic…the flop brings them an ace and their A2o is now the gold standard.
If it’s the mark of a good player to know when you’re beaten I must be excellent because I get clobbered a lot!
Love the magazine and thanks for the opportunity to vent.