Playing Aces in Heads Up.

I'm a big fan of Heads Up games. I regularly play the $5 and $10 buy in Heads Up in all games and occasionally play the $20 games. The most popular variation is of course NLHE. Here's a spot recently where I caught a couple bullets and I think might be the proper play here. I want you to think of the proper play, then my actions.

Full Tilt Poker Game #661093132: $10 + $0.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (4348530), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:46:33 ET - 2006/05/24
Seat 1: joeshadow25 (1,555)
Seat 2: Bender2006 (1,445)(Still early in the game. I have a slight hole to dig myself out of. No real read on the range joe may have)

joeshadow25 posts the small blind of 15
Bender2006 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Bender2006 [Ah Ac](The best starting hand in holdem)
joeshadow25 raises to 120


Okay this is a dream spot. I have the best possible starting hand. The one hand that gives me the absolute worst odds is something like 8-9 Suited or T-J suited. Even this makes me a 3:1 favorite at least. I'll give you a run down of possible hands he may have and the odds I've got.


vs. KK 81% to win
vs. KQs 83% to win
vs. 77 80% to win
vs. AKs 88% to win
vs. T9s 77% to win
vs. 84o 85% to win
vs JTs 79% to win

These are all very favorable odds. With a raise of 4x BB I think he's got some kind of hand. I can do one of 3 things.

1. Call, I can disguise the strength of my hand I may have limped in with many decent hands, and he will think I'm somewhat weak.

2. Raise an intermediate amount. I will get more action on this pot or he may go over the top. If he has a big hand like two kings, I will get him to move all in.

3. Move all in. Make it look like a complete steal. He won't suspect aces and may call with more marginal hands.

Option 1 doesn't really tell me anything about where I'm at and what hand my opponent hands. Aces aren't invincable.

Option 3 is a waste of a good oppertunity. Very few hands will call in this spot.

Option 2 gives me info on my opponents hand and a chance to build the pot.

I elect to go with option 2.






Bender2006 raises to 210( I raise minimum. He may come over the top or call. It's unlikely he will fold and I can build a pot)
joeshadow25 calls 90

*** FLOP *** [Kh Tc 3s](A nice flop for Aces. The flop is rainbow and the possibilty is high he has a King in the hole. If he has K-T I was meant to go broke)

Bender2006 checks(I really want my hand to look like a small pocket pair. Though I am likely giving off information and trapping I want to put it in the back of his mind that his king is good)

joeshadow25 checks
*** TURN *** [Kh Tc 3s] [4h]

Bender2006 bets 150(The 4 is unlikely to help his hand. I bet for value. This smallish bet will certainly be called by one pair. If he does have a lone King in the hole, I own him.)
joeshadow25 calls 150

*** RIVER *** [Kh Tc 3s 4h] [8c](Another good card. My hand is almost certainly good)
Bender2006 bets 400( I know my hand is good. For the money in the pot, it isn't that much. I expect a call from a king, maybe the ten. Even if I take it down, it's still good profit.)
joeshadow25 calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Bender2006 shows [Ah Ac] (a pair of Aces)
joeshadow25 mucks
Bender2006 wins the pot (1,520) with a pair of Aces
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,520 | Rake 0
Board: [Kh Tc 3s 4h 8c]
Seat 1: joeshadow25 (small blind) mucked [9s 4c] (Even better than I expected. Idiot.)- a pair of Fours
Seat 2: Bender2006 (big blind) showed [Ah Ac] and won (1,520) with a pair of Aces


Big key to profiting from aces is to build a pot instead of charging all at once. Charge a little then a little more. It's like the frog and the boiling water. Heat it up all at once, he's gonna jump away. Heat it piece by piece and he croaks.