Ace-X Suited In No-Limit

Ace-X suited is at best a marginal starting hand at limit hold’em, partly because the size of the pot you might win hardly justifies the long odds against making a flush (or better hand). However, at no-limit hold’em, when you do make the nut flush, you might score up a very big win. Thus, playing an A-x suited at no-limit is often a worthwhile speculation if the price is right.

You should be aware that you will flop a flush less than one percent of the time. The most likely flush scenario is that you will flop two cards of your suit (about 11 percent of the time) and then complete your flush with two cards coming about one-third of that time (34.3 percent). With only one card of your suit in the flop (41.6 percent), you will make a “backdoor flush” only about four percent of the time.

Of course, when you flop a flush draw (two of your suit in the flop), that presents a very good judgment opportunity to try the all-in “come bluff” which wins if everyone folds, or if called, you might hit. I tend to make that “big move” quite often in rebuy tournaments.

All in all, your chances of flushing are not that good, but if you do happen to hit one at no-limit, the rewards can be substantial I recently played in a $2-$5 no-limit game (in Palm Beach, Florida) where I saw the flop with an A-x suited four times. I folded a fifth A-x suited when there was a large preflop raise.

I first held the A 7, and there were two low hearts on the flop. I simply called a small bet after the flop and a slightly larger bet after the turn. In three-way action, an ace rivered. They both checked to me and I considered betting my aces. But since I would probably have to fold a big check-raise, I merely checked and my aces did win the pot.

I folded the next two of the four A-x hands after the flop. Finally, playing A 8, I was in middle position, and there was a small raise in back of me. In four-way action, the flop came J 9 3. The small blind bet $25 (holding J-10) and the next player called. I considered making the all-in come-bluff bet with my remaining $300 stack, but decided to just call.

The preflop raiser with K-K went all-in, making it $107 to go. The pair of jacks called and the A-Q fished in also. I also called. The next card was the beautiful 6, giving me the nut flush. It was checked around to me. Would you bet your $200 stack here?

I considered betting the $200, but I judged that would probably lose at least one player — maybe both. So I tried betting $100. They both called. The last card was a queen. I bet my remaining $103, and they both called. It was the biggest pot that I won in that four-hour session. Note that after turning the nut flush, the odds of my losing the pot on the last card (because I bet $100 instead of $203) were extremely small and justified my milking that extra $200.

I think the bottom line on playing A-x suited in no-limit hold’em is simply this: Because of the big-win potential, if you can see the flop cheaply, it is worthwhile playing. ♠

Formerly a career lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice, Mike Cappelletti has written numerous books on poker and bridge, and is considered to be one of the leading authorities on Omaha. Mike has also represented the U.S. in international bridge competition, and he and his wife were featured in a four-page Couples Section in People magazine. His books include Cappelletti on Omaha, Poker at the Millennium (with Mike Caro), and Omaha High Low Poker