Rule/Guideline about unsuited Ace's !?!

[BB King's]

How do you like this statement:

Pre-Flop with an unsuited Ace you ALWAYS raise or fold - you never just call - that would be weak.

Some experts favourite-mantra is: '... it depends !?' But does it really ?

Any comments appreciated !

Thanks, BB King's ... formerly known as the pokerplayer formerly known as Jack

[Allan]

I think it does depend. Say you have AQo on the button and 6 players have limped in ahead of you..you surely want to play but your hand doesn't play well in big multiway pots so raising here is counter-productive.


Allan

I would clearly raise in that situation to thin the pot out.

[bad beetz]

no one is going anywhere for one extra bet. I just call.

[Homer]

I still may consider raising because:

1) AQo is better than most or all of the limpers' hands.
2) If the flop misses me, I may get to see the turn card for free. I realize this is less likely against a large field, but it is still a consideration in my mind.

It's Roy Cooke who says "it depends" and he's right. The A-Q with 6 limpers is a great example, along with your opponents. Here's another -- a maniac on tilt raises and it's folded to your A-J(o) in late position. You're pretty sure you have the best hand, but if you raise, you know the maniac will pop it back. I'd call here and see the flop. NOW same situation but the raiser is a loose weak player who will almost certainly check to you if you raise. Here, I'm raising because my hand is best AND I can take control of the betting.

[avidguru]

Never say "always" or "never". [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Seriously, though, removing "call" as an option in any open-ended scenario like this is removing a third of your toolset. Most of the time raising or folding is correct, but calling is indeed best in other places.