A9s UTG+2 - Any problems with my play?

[theghost]

Party Poker 0.50/1 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: (9 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks, CO checks, Button checks.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds.

River: (6.50 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>...

Final Pot: 7.50 BB

[sluttysteve]

I'm not sure about that EP raise... does SSHE advise that?

[theghost]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure about that EP raise... does SSHE advise that?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll generally raise a suited ace (down to about 9) from this position when I'm first in (I admit UTG+2 is a little early). Combination of value for the nut-flush possibility, and narrowing the field for the ace.

[BreakEven]

SSHE:

Loose Play - Call A9s from early/mid position. Raise or call a raise in late position. Call in the blinds.

Tight Play - Fold A9s in early position. Raise an unraised pot in late postion. Call in the blinds.

[Quercus]

Unless you know that this table is loose, dump this puppy.

An A9s EP raise shows more strength than you can back up and will get you into too many awkward situations on the flop, not to mentioned all the times you'll be dumping money into a pot to find out you are dominated.

When you show this much aggression preflop, you want to have the goods to continue postflop. This hand is just too marginal in all but the best of circumstances to give you confident postflop play.

Starting hand selection isn't just about what cards will win pots in and of themselves. Starting hand selection sets the whole tone of your game. If people see you raising with this sort of hand from EP, they are going to give your raises less respect. That's bad.

[afk]

Pssssssh! At party $.5/1 A9s is fine in EP. I play A2s up front as well.

[LowDown22]

afk,

Do you raise Axs from EP too?

[afk]

I raise ATs from EP, but not A9s. though I'll raise it first in from MP.

[Quercus]

Limping A9x is fine on a loose table (the norm for 0.50/1.00). I have played on several tight 0.50/1.00 tables though. Really, they exist - especially if you play weekday mornings and afternoons.

I wouldn't raise it from that position though, loose or tight.

[afk]

Oh I totally agree they exist, but the vast majority of the time you get loose ones. I'm also usually at school on weekday mornings, so they don't exist as much in my little world [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]