Learn Texas Holdem

Question: Thanks for the reply but I made an error in my question (and yes I am playing online). I sometimes call a preflop bet to see the FLOP (not river as I wrote). I don't chase that bad hand if I don't hit. This usually involves hands like A6 or higher kicker, 79s, 89o etc. My further point was that calling (usually up to $5) with these hands, and not catching, which statistically happens more often, eats up cash. Am I correct in playing these hands late, depending on the cost to call, or should I tighten up?

Also, what is the value, in your opinion, of an Ax call (less than 2X blind) late to see the FLOP?

Sorry for the initial error.

Thanks again for your input

Answer: Before I get started, let me just qualify everything I'm about to write; this is only for no limit holdem, not limit holdem. There are differences in hand selection in both styles.

Most of my previous answer still applies to this question. Knowing what wins, whether it be early in the betting round or later, is the best defense to your discipline weakening. So that brings up your specific question about the 89s, 79o and other similar hands chance of winning. In no limit holdem, hands like 79s and 89 don't do well. The easy reason is that these hands are so weak that you need a very lucky flop to continue with them. Considering calling raises with them is a very bad proposition because of their low chance of winning.

You have to ask the question, what am I hoping to flop with a hand like 79s? You could flop a flush draw or straight draw, but even then you still aren't that strong (to say nothing that it isn't a big flush even if you hit). You could flop one pair with it, like top pair heads up but then what will you do if someone who raised preflop bets into you? You can't feel too comfortable with the hand then. You could flop two pair, but even then if the person has an overpair they have many cards that can still draw out and beat you.

So the majority of the time, hands like 89 and 79s are not playable in no limit if there is a big raise preflop (doubling the blind isn't usually considered a big raise). If you can get in for cheap and you have a chance at winning a big pot (for example if there are lots of other callers), then fine but most of the time you'll be correct in mucking these hands. With that said though, I would encourage you to take advantage of other player's passivity (lack of raising preflop) if they let you in for the big blind every hand but don't confuse that with calling real raises.

In no limit cash games you can call the big blind all day with trash hands as long as you are willing to let them go if someone makes a raise. When someone makes a big raise preflop, you'll need a real hand to call with. If you already called the big blind and then someone just doubles the bet in back of you, call. If they do anymore than that and there aren't ton of people in, then just muck the hand.

That brings us to the Ace rag question. Ace rag for new players is any Ace with a small kicker. I'm sure there are many readers who watch the WPT on TV and hear the commentators talk highly about a person with and Ace in their hand. This is different than normal play though, it is the final table and often times people are forced to play because they have small stacks and the blinds keep getting raised. In that situation, having just Ace rag is as good as you can hope for.

In regular no limit cash games, or early on in a tournament, Ace rag is not a hand that you want to call preflop raises with. Any weak Ace (for example A7o) is a really hard hand to play well. Either you'll win a small pot with it or you'll lose a big pot with it. This falls into the trouble hand category. If you are getting action from someone and you have a pair of Aces with a 7 kicker, how good can you feel? If you play Ace rag suited, then you really aren't hoping for an Ace only. You would preflop to flop two pair, a flush draw, or some other hand.

To summarize, don't call big preflop raises of other players with weak hands. The only exception to that rule would be if you are in a tournament and don't have any chips left. And lastly, note there is a difference between a hand you call with and a hand you bet with. If you are the aggressor, you can get away with playing weaker hands but calling with weak hands is a big no no in no limit holdem.