[Lin Sherman]

This hand is very marginal but not entirely unplayable. Still, I would recommend that most players fold it.

IF you are a better player than anyone already in the pot, IF your opponents tend to be passive and frequently check it around on fourth, IF the game has a moderate to large ante, IF no one has completed the bring-in, and IF you are last to act (or know you will be because the players to your left are signalling that they're going to fold), then you can limp in. That's a lot of IFs.

To continue playing, you have to make a pair on fourth, your cards have to still be live, and your opponents have to not make anything scary. Note that if you pair your ace no one is going to put you on three aces because you didn't raise on third, but they might put you on two pair and let you have the pot if you bet. If you make a smaller pair, you should start thinking about how you're going to get heads-up. If it looks like you can't, then check-call and hope you make two pair or trips on fifth. It's unlikely that you'll be able to continue if you don't make at least two pair by fifth street, and often you should fold two small pair.

This hand would be a lot better if your ace were suited. Now you have a much easier late-position call on third street if no one has completed the bet and if your flush cards are live.

Lin