I loooove that picture. Heres another one of her.
http://www.wowfunny.com/pic.shtml?3804.jpg
Anyways to the subject at hand.
Axs. The reason why it looks good on paper to player from EP or MP is because vs many players it has good equity and can be folded easily to action.
Now take A6s to A2s. weak players play all and any aces. Some do not raises with A9s-AJo because they play weak. The lower Axs are at a disadvange to other aces because of their kicker. Sure they make a straight, sere they can make the flush, but that does not compensate for kicker wars. You are much more likely to be facing a weak player with an ace on a flop then the chance of flopping a draw.
4% to hit a straight draw on the flop. So what look at the numbers here.
http://www.texasholdempoker-stats.co...overcards.html
A9s vs A5s-A2s There is a 19% chance that if you flop a 9 there won't be overs. Thats much better than 4% for the straight DRAW only.
Also since no one raised or reraised and weak players called if they have an ace there is quite a good chance your kicker is king. They would notmally reraise with AK only. Call with AQ or below. So now you have 3 overs, 1 tie, and 8 lower kickers to content with. I'll take that over A5s anyday.
A7s is where I draw the line. Your kicker is below average here and you have to play it very careful. in 3/6 I will raise this hand 1st in in the last 50% of the table. if 5 fold in a 10 handed game I raise. But I play it careful. I would much rather have a A9s or A8s for the kicker.
A5s to A2s is a hand you play in position or in the blinds cheap. You are looking for the draws. Cheap hand that can make 2 draws. If an ace flops I check. Lots of people in the pot and someone bets early I fold unless I have backdoors, guts, or can read the player knowing I can hit 2 pair safely and have pot odds. Some shmuck bets on the button I raise to get it headsup and increase my chances to win.
My PT shows most Axs as losers unless you hit the draws which are small. Do you want to call down with A5s OOP just because you have an ace? No.
Kicker is MUCH more important than making that straight when there are few people in the pot. Even in a large pot its important.
A5s and A6s are even in terms of value because of the str8 draw.
Also note this. Anyone with 2 paint is only 40% to you before the flop if you come in early with Axs and he has position. That almost makes the hands even in my book.
Now lets say Master Fish X limps in from MP2 and you have Axs on the button. Thats a different story. Now I raise. Whats this guy limping with? He's a fish he could have 2 pair, a suited connector, maybe an ace but its much less likely. Also whats he going to do when the flop misses him if he has no pair and no draw with his Axo?
Most of the hands he is limping is less than an Axs and you have position. Thats makes a world of difference to OOP with Axs and someone behind. It can be a 2-3 small bet difference by the river.
Now if you are in a passice loose game like 5+ to the flop calling all raises then limping in with Axs just for the flush draw is golden from any position. In these games players pay you off no matter what they have. Their only power is that they are bluff proof calling down with K high "just in case your bluffing". I have ram and jammed the pot on the flop when it was obvously dangerous and I was sure another player flopped a straight. I had a nut flush draw. I still had 6 other players calling a CAPped flop. 6:1 to hit the nut flush for a 3:1 shot, worst case 4:1 because some other shmoe had a small flush.
In 3/6 though there is no way you can play Axs small unless you are in cheap with a ton of callers in an unraised pot, in the BB with odds in a raised pot, or in position vs a weak limper (did I hear raise?). Kicker is the most important thing with the ace. My stats and many other players prove it. Better kicker more $$$ that simple.
http://www.texasholdempoker-stats.co...e_any_axo.html