Hi Mike,

I am mostly playing shorthanded limit holdem (usually $5-10 and $10-20). There is one particular type of hands that always give me trouble. I don’t know how to play weak aces (or if I should play them at all). Hope you can give me some advice.

All the best,
Sid K
Thanks for your question Sid, this is indeed a tricky hand to play. I would definitely advice you to play weak aces with caution and most of the times throw them away. Or let me put it like this, only play weak aces if you are first in to the pot or have posted a blind. If anybody call or raise before you just throw them away, even the suited ones. You just don’t win with them often enough to justify playing them if you don’t have a chance to steal the blinds at the same time. I usually throw them away under the gun, except if I sit on an extremely weak table. But otherwise I bring them in with a raise, half of the point playing them is that you have a chance to steal the blinds uncontested. The problem with weak aces is that you usually don’t want anyone to call when you raise with them, especially if they have position.

But I raise them up if I am first in and if somebody re-raises I call (if they are suited I usually call even if it is capped). When the flop comes I raise almost every time (if it wasn’t re-raised preflop). It is important to keep the initiative here. And many opponents will fold here if they have missed the flop so you definitely should stay aggressive.

The hard part is when you get a re-raise. If you hit the flop you play your usual game, and probably re-raise or call. The problem is if you have missed. If you don’t have a good draw my general advice is to fold. To continue play the hand you need a good read on your opponent.

In summary, I re-raise with weak aces preflop if I am first in, bet the flop whatever comes if no one has re-raised, but usually fold if I get action.

Read more about limit holdem here.