3 Reasons You Lose Money Playing a Single Ace

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 10, 2025

If you’re new to poker, or don’t book wins as frequently as you feel you should, there’s a good chance one of your costly leaks comes from playing a single ace.

Being the most valuable card in the deck, the ace’s siren song can be too much for many green poker players to resist.

But how and when you play the hands A2 – AJ can make a world of difference in your short- and long-term results.

Poker’s a game with no simple answers. Aces are valuable cards, and as such you don’t want to automatically fold every time you’re dealt just a single one.

But if you’re losing money playing them the way you are, it’s time to reevaluate.

Example:
Imagine you’re at a nine-handed table with A 7 in middle position. Two players limp before you, and you decide to raise because you’ve got an ace. The button three-bets, and both limpers fold. Now you’re heads-up out of position with a mediocre holding. If you call this three-bet, you’re likely to face more pressure on the flop and turn. This situation often leads to tough decisions, highlighting why single aces can be tricky in raised pots – especially out of position.

3 Ways You Lose Money with an Ace in Poker

You’re Out of Position

Position, position, position. The importance of position in poker simply can’t be expressed enough – especially when it comes to playing marginal or easily dominated hands.

As a general rule of thumb, you should be folding all A-x hands you’re dealt out of position, regardless of the second card or the cards being suited.

This rule is very tight – to the point of being nitty. Even so, this is where you should start from and only deviate from this game plan if you have a very good reason to do so.

If you can’t clearly explain the reason in a few words, then your understanding of the situation is clearly not strong enough to warrant making the play.

Many players think they should be limping a suited ace from any position on the table. But before you can decide if that’s a profitable play, you need to answer this question:

Are you capable of profitably playing a drawing hand out of position? For most players in the world, the correct answer is no – leading us to our next topic.

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Lay Off the Flush Draws

You have to lay off the flush draws. Just because you have the nut-flush draw doesn’t mean you have to commit your whole stack to the pot.

Remember, until you hit the flush, all you have is ace-high. Your goal is to keep the pots small, control the hand, and pump the hell out of the pot once you hit.

If you called a raise with your suited ace, chances are the raiser is going to bet the flop regardless of what they actually have. When they do bet, it’s typically going to be three-quarters to a full pot-sized bet.

If you have nothing but a flush draw, you’re not getting odds to call here.

Example:
You hold A 8 in late position and call a raise from the cutoff. The flop is 2 6 J , giving you a nut-flush draw. The cutoff bets a large amount. If you call and miss on the turn, you’ll likely face another big bet, leaving you in a tough spot. If you do hit on the turn, your opponent may slow down or fold if they suspect the flush. That limited payoff often doesn’t justify the risk unless you’re certain you have solid implied odds or a post-flop skill edge.

If you do call and you miss the turn, chances are you’re going to have to make another call. If you happened to hit on the turn, your opponent is most likely going to be afraid of or assume you have the flush.

In general, you’re going to get one bet out of them here. The only way you win a nice pot in this situation is if your opponent has a hand too strong to let go or they’re a complete donkey.

In short, unless you have a very large edge over your opponent, or you know you have massive implied odds, you don’t want to be playing A-x, even suited A-x, heads-up in a raised pot.

If you’re calling with a suited ace, you’re playing for the flush, not a pair. This means you’re looking for multi-way action, ensuring you have the correct odds and increasing the chance of another player paying you off when you hit.

If you’re playing this heads-up, chances are…

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You’re Overplaying the Hand

The most common reason a player is losing money with a single ace is they’re overplaying the hand. Even if it’s a suited ace – suited ace-jack even – you still have a weak hand that doesn’t play well in a raised, heads-up pot.

If we assume everyone is usually playing by-the-book poker, a raise usually means AA, KK, QQ, AK, JJ or AQ. All of these hands are either ahead or completely dominate any single-ace hand you can have.

Even if these hands look great, like A J  does, they’re not all that strong. Your goal is to take down small- to medium-sized un-raised pots or play in large, raised pots looking to take advantage of implied odds.

For example, if you hit a flop of A 3 7 holding A 3 , chances are you’re going to make a lot of money off anyone holding A-K.

If you do only flop the one pair, it’s either going to be the ace with a weak kicker or your other card with the best kicker. Either way, you have a hand that’s easily beat, and the only players willing to call large bets against you are going to have you beat.

If you don’t hit a very lucky and large flop, you want to keep the pot small or get out cheap. Never go broke with just one pair.

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Playing a Single Ace: Rules of Thumb

Start to think of this whole range of hands as being very weak and only useful if they hit the crap out of the flop. You don’t want to pay too much to see a flop and you want to get rid of the hand if you don’t hit it.

To surmise: fold all single-ace hands unless 1) you’re in position 2) can get in cheap (to win a small pot) or 3) have the implied odds to win a big one. When you’re playing for implied odds, if you don’t hit huge on the flop, dump the hand.

Unless you have a strong reason to believe otherwise, assume hitting one pair with these hands is no good. Play for monsters only and you’ll turn these hands into rare winners, but ones that provide massively positive results over the long run.

More Strategies for Single-Ace Hands

The following ideas build on the fundamental strategies above to help experienced players refine their approach. While folding weak A-x out of position remains essential, there are nuanced spots where these hands can be used in advanced ways, including exploitative adjustments against specific player types.

Exploiting Weak Ranges and Mastering Continuation Bets

If you’re up against an opponent who routinely over-folds to continuation bets, holding a single ace can become a weapon. By raising or three-betting pre-flop and following up with a well-sized continuation bet on the right board texture, you often force folds from weaker holdings. However, you must remain cautious. If you’re called or re-raised on a board that doesn’t significantly improve your ace-high, it might be time to slow down or give up.

In more sophisticated cash games or tournaments, some players will attempt to trap you with slow plays. Always consider board texture and your opponent’s tendencies. If you find yourself in a situation where your opponent never folds to continuation bets, single-ace hands lose much of their bluffing value. Conversely, if they fold often to well-timed bets, your ace can serve as a blocker, reducing the likelihood they hold dominating hands like A-K or A-Q. Coupled with a logical post-flop plan, this strategy can add a profitable layer to your game.

Considering GTO-Inspired Adjustments

While single aces are not premium holdings, GTO-based analysis often shows that some A-x combos can appear in balanced ranges. These hands act as semi-bluffs in certain spots, especially on boards where an ace can serve as a blocker to the nut flush or top pair. Remember that balance alone won’t make you money. You also need to adapt to your specific opponents, switching between balanced and exploitative play as the table dynamics shift.

If you suspect an opponent rarely adjusts or is unfamiliar with GTO concepts, your single-ace hands remain fold-worthy unless you see a clear pathway to outplaying them post-flop. When facing skilled competition, weigh the impact of having an ace in your hand to block premium combinations or flush draws, potentially turning a marginal ace into a profitable semi-bluff or barrel candidate on later streets.

FAQ

What does it mean to have a single ace in poker?

Having a single ace means you hold one ace and a non-ace card, such as A 7 or A 5 . These holdings can be troublesome when they aren’t part of a premium combination because they can be easily dominated by stronger aces or other premium hands.

Why is position so crucial when playing A-x hands?

Position is critical because it gives you more information about your opponents’ actions before you have to decide. A-x hands are often marginal. Without position, you face tougher decisions when trying to realize your hand’s equity or control pot size.

Should I always play suited aces for flush draws?

Not always. While suited aces can produce the nut flush, you must still have the right pot odds and implied odds. In heads-up pots against aggressive opponents, you could face large bets on multiple streets before you complete your draw, making it a risky and costly endeavor.

When is it acceptable to three-bet with a single ace?

It is acceptable when you identify specific factors: your opponent’s range is weak or wide, you have position, or you believe a continuation bet will be profitable post-flop. These scenarios require a deep understanding of both GTO concepts and exploitative play.

Why do many players overplay single-ace hands?

Many players mistakenly assume any ace is a strong holding. When faced with a raise or when they hit top pair with a weak kicker, they often invest too much money without considering how easily they can be dominated by better aces or sets.

How do implied odds influence my decision to call with A-x?

Implied odds measure the potential payoff if you hit a monster hand, such as a flush or trips. You need multi-way pots or opponents who will pay you off to justify calling with weak aces. If you don’t believe you can win a large pot post-flop, folding might be the better choice.

Why are single aces sometimes used as blockers in modern strategies?

In advanced play, an ace in your hand blocks certain premium holdings and nut-flush draws, making it less likely your opponent holds those combinations. This concept can be leveraged in semi-bluffs or barrel strategies, especially if you understand how your opponent reacts to aggression.

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