Ace Low Kicker

By Reggie VelJohnson

How to best play an Ace and a low kicker. Examples: A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5.

When people discuss drawing hands in Texas Hold’em, suited connectors often push their way into the conversation. But one hand that people rarely discuss in regards to drawing hands is the ace with a suited, low kicker.

In fact, most people don’t really consider it a drawing hand because they can use a suited ace to make top pair. Unfortunately, playing suited aces with lower kickers for the purpose of hitting top pair is risky. That’s why its main use is to hit a nut flush.

But a suited ace with a low kicker is actually not even that good of a drawing hand. After all, you wouldn’t take just any pair of suited cards to the flop; so why call with something like suited A-2 that could easily be out-kicked by another ace?

That being said, Ax suited is alright to play when you’re in late position, but don’t go thinking you have top pair potential along with the draw.