A9o playable?

[eviljeff]

I've been treating Sklansky's Small Stakes like the Bible for the past month and it's served me well. one thing that confuses me is that his preflop chart for tight games suggests raising from the button with A9s, A8s or ATo, but not playing A9o from anywhere, even SB. anyone disagree or care to explain the rationale?

[Isura]

Note: Ed Miller is the actual author also there are 3 names on the book.
The hand charts are not written in stone, just suggestions. If you can understand the concepts in the preflop section you will learn to adjust the requirements depending on the type of game you playing. A hand like A9o is usually strong enough to raise from in late position in a tight game if many people have folded to you (maybe only 1 limper in front). Also, A9s has much more value than A9o in loose low-limt games since you will often get paid off a lot when you make the nut flush. A9o (and ATo) is a losing hand at micro-limits online IMO.

[Oponn]

If I remember correctly, I think SSH says you can play A9o from the button in loose games. If people routinely play any ace in the game you're in, then your 9 kicker is going to be good often enough for A9o to be profitable.

[Aaron W.]

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anyone disagree or care to explain the rationale?

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It probably has to do with simplifying the charts and avoiding the more difficult/marginal situations. As you get more comfortable with postflop play, you'll start to know when to deviate from the book.

Here is a fun post playing A9o in a read-specific situation.