When Should You Fold Aces in Poker?

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 18, 2025

Being able to fold when behind is what sets apart the great poker players from everyone else.

It’s really easy to play the best hand. The difference between how much the best and worst players in the world make with the nuts is almost negligible.

The real difference between the best players and everyone else is their ability to lose the least – by knowing when to fold losing hands. Regardless of how long waited for a decent starting hand, you have to muck it as soon as you know you’re beat.

A “Must Fold” Hand in Poker

You’re playing a six-max 50¢/$1 No Limit Hold’em game online. The players on the table are aggressive and somewhat loose, but there are no real aggro donkeys to be found.

You’ve been absolutely card dead for the last 30 minutes without being dealt a single hand worth playing until:

50¢/$1 No Limit Hold’em – 6 players (Hero is always you)

UTG: $75
MP: $40
Hero(CO): $122
BTN: $198
SB: $132
BB: $40

Pre Flop: (Pot: $1.50) Hero is CO with J J

UTG raises to $5, MP folds, Hero re-raises to $20, BTN re-raises all in $198, 2 folds, UTG calls $70, Hero???

Unless you skipped the title and introduction to this article, you know the correct answer to this question is fold. In fact, it’s a very easy fold to make. But it’s a common scenario for beginners to lose their stack in.

The easiest way to understand this hand is to break it down, one action at a time:

UTG raises to $5. This is a slightly big raise for a $1 big blind (online) game, but that alone doesn’t really tell you much.

Raising under the gun at a six-max table implies that he actually has a decent hand. At this point, without any more information, we can put him on a range that includes all pocket pairs, all suited aces, all suited connectors and face cards.

You’re ahead of a lot of that range with jacks, so you re-raise. You bump it to $20 (4x the previous bet. Again, some would say it’s slightly large, but it’s totally reasonable).

Now the button moves all in. This move should scare you, as he’s pushing after a raise and a re-raise.

He’s saying he has a huge hand, and “by the book” play would dictate this player has AA or KK here. But we have to take into account that we’re playing six-max and he might be making a squeeze play.

Although it’s very possible he has AA or KK, it’s also possible he’s on a pure bluff, trying to squeeze for the pot.

That’s when UTG calls the all in. At this point there are only two options:

UTG has AA or KK, or UTG believes the button is making a play. Either way, for you to call and be ahead, the button has to be making a play and UTG has to be assuming that and calling with a hand less than JJ.

Although it’s technically possible, it’s highly unlikely you’re ahead here. Chances are you’re behind AA or KK, maybe even both of them.

If you’re lucky you’re up against TT and AK, but even with those hands you’re still only 43% against the field. This is a must fold.

One more example:
A situation illustrating a tough fold with J J at a lower stake game
Imagine you’re in a similar 25¢/50¢ game where you hold J J on the button. The under-the-gun player raises and another player re-raises big from middle position. You sense that one or even both players are strong. Instead of following your urge to play jacks at any cost, you decide to let them go. Moments later, both opponents show K K and A A , confirming your fold saved you from a costly mistake.

When Should You Fold Aces?

Next scenario: You’ve managed to make the previous fold, and over the last hour you’ve gone on a really good run and built up your stack.

A new player to the table also sat down and went on a sick run, leaving you both very deep stacked. This new player seems very tight, only showing down very strong hands.

50¢/$1 No Limit Hold’em – 6 players (Hero is always you)

UTG: $545
Hero(MP): $525
CO: $122
BTN: $198
SB: $132
BB: $40

Pre Flop: (Pot: $1.50) Hero is MP with A A

UTG raises to $5, Hero re-raises to $20, 4 folds, UTG re-raises to $75, Hero calls

Flop: (Pot: $151.50) 9 Q K

UTG checks, Hero bets $140, UTG raises all-in to $350, Hero???

Let’s look at what just happened here. UTG raised, which typically translates into him having a legitimate premium hand.

We three-bet 4x his original raise right behind him. After the rest of the table folds, UTG four-bets to $75.

At this point, you can be almost certain your opponent has a premium hand – probably KK or QQ – although it’s not impossible he’s running a huge, dumb bluff.

Either way, just calling here is your best option. Moving all in now will only cause a bluff to fold, while just calling might induce your opponent to continue his bluff on the flop.

If he does have KK or QQ, chances are the money’s going all-in on the flop anyways. Shipping it here doesn’t really help you against a good hand, but it hurts you against a bluff.

Regardless of whether you agree with just calling here, in this scenario that’s what you do and you head to the flop, which comes 9 Q K . 

This is possibly the worst flop we could have seen. Let’s look at the range of our opponent: KK, QQ, AK, JJ, TJ, TT, 99, AA and Bluff.

These are the only reasonable options, listed in descending order from the most probable to the least. After this flop, you’re drawing to two outs against the two most probable, two outs against pocket nines and you’re drawing nearly dead to TJ.

Dump the Aces and Move On

With only six outs against you, you’re in decent shape against JJ and TT. You chop with AA and you’re only a huge favorite against a bluff or AK.

This is a horrible flop for you. Your opponent checks, probably meaning he has the set and is check-raising or he was bluffing and has given up.

You bet close to the pot and he raises all in. At this point there’s really nothing you can beat. You’re most likely crushed.

There’s a slim chance he’s running a huge bluff, but it’s very unlikely since almost all of the range he can put you on will call here. The only other option you can beat is if he’s greatly overplaying a six outer or AK.

Odds are you’re screwed. Not many players will try to run a bluff this in-depth against the only other player deep enough to (nearly) felt them.

Example:
A quick example of a nightmare flop for AA
Suppose you hold A A on a dry board, but your opponent aggressively re-raised preflop and continues postflop on a Q-K-9 texture. Whenever the flop hits that tight opponent’s range better than it hits yours, it’s time to consider folding quickly, especially if they show uncharacteristic aggression.

Cut your losses, dump the aces and move on.

Considerations for Folding Big Pairs

In deeper-stacked settings, deciding whether to fold a premium hand can hinge on nuanced reads. While raw equity might still favor holding on, the changing dynamics of multi-street betting force you to weigh your opponent’s perceived range and the potential for large bets on later streets. Even if you hold A A , facing relentless pressure when deep-stacked can indicate that your opponent’s range is weighted heavily toward sets or straights that severely dominate your overpair.

Taking a balanced approach is key. Some players rely on GTO modeling to ensure they aren’t folding premium holdings too often, while others use exploitative analysis to figure out if a specific opponent’s range is so narrow that folding becomes optimal. The deeper the stacks, the bigger the implied threat, because your losses extend far beyond a single street of betting.

Incorporating Modern Tools

Advanced simulation tools can help clarify these tight spots. Many professionals now consult solvers that account for stack depth, board texture, and subsequent street actions. If, for instance, a solver repeatedly indicates a fold with A A on certain runouts, it often aligns with real-world experience. That doesn’t mean automatic folds are always correct. It means that if your read and the data converge, you should consider making a disciplined laydown. Translating these solver insights to live play involves constantly updating your assumptions about your opponent. When you’re unsure whether to fold that overpair, check how your read or your study of solver ranges holds up against the story your opponent is telling in real time.

Beyond the Math

Even perfect range analysis can’t replicate the psychological cues in a live poker environment. If you sense genuine confidence in a normally cautious player, it might reinforce the solver’s indication to fold. If you spot an uncharacteristic hesitation or bet-sizing pattern that conflicts with a presumably strong range, you might decide to call down. Ultimately, a blend of math, psychology, and experience shapes the most profitable decisions to fold or hold onto your big pairs.

FAQ

What does it mean to fold in poker?

Folding in poker means discarding your hand and forfeiting any chance to win the current pot. You do this when you believe you are beaten or that continuing is no longer profitable.

When should I consider folding aces?

You should consider folding A A or A A when your opponent’s line of play and betting patterns strongly indicate they have you dominated. Especially in deeper-stacked games, big raises and re-raises on scary boards often hint that you could be facing a set, two pair, or better.

Why did the example recommend folding jacks after the all-in and the call?

After the button moved all in and the under-the-gun player called, the likelihood that at least one opponent had A A , K K , or a similarly dominating range became very high. This scenario left J J in a bad equity spot with little chance of being ahead.

Does a solver always dictate folding big pairs in these spots?

Not necessarily. Solvers provide data-driven strategies but don’t guarantee a single “correct” play for every situation. They often show folding as optimal when the opponent’s range is significantly stronger, especially on unfavorable board textures. Human reads, table dynamics, and exploitative adjustments also matter.

What is the role of GTO in folding premium hands?

A GTO (Game Theory Optimal) approach helps you balance your calling and folding ranges to avoid being exploited. However, if your opponent’s tendencies deviate heavily from optimal play, an exploitative approach could suggest folding more often in spots where GTO might normally recommend a call.

What if I worry about folding the best hand?

Occasionally folding the best hand is inevitable. The goal is to limit your losses when you are actually behind. If the evidence strongly indicates your opponent is ahead, preserving your chips is often more profitable than making a marginal call purely out of fear.

Should I play aces differently against aggressive players?

Against highly aggressive players, you may call or raise differently preflop and postflop, especially if you suspect they bluff frequently. However, if they pile on excessive pressure on boards that favor their range, sometimes folding aces is still the correct decision.

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