A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Aces are the most powerful cards in poker, but very frequently, they have to work alongside low kickers that weaken their winning potential. But ace-rag (as such poker hands are known) isn’t always a dead loss. In fact, depending on what exactly you’re holding, ace-rag could be the ticket to a win, as long as you know how to play it (including when not to). After all, in poker, rags-to-riches stories have been known to come true. Just think about Chris Moneymaker.

Without further ado, take a closer look at how to put rag aces to good use in live or online poker.

What Are Rag Aces in Poker?

Poker rags are any hole cards that don’t work well together. Rag aces are hands consisting of an ace and a kicker with a value below 10, from ace-9 through to ace-2. Novice players tend to make a lot of errors with ace-rag and burn a lot of money as a result. Who can say they’ve never gotten excited to have a pair of aces only to be crushed because they had no kicker? Since close to 10% of the deck consists of ace-rag combinations, it’s a good idea to have a strategy in place for when you’re holding one of them.

The Challenge With Rag Aces

So, what’s the best plan of action when you’re holding rag aces in poker? First off, beware of the dangers. You may already know of the TPNK (top pair, no kicker) problem. That’s when your ace pairs with the board, but your kicker lets you down. For instance, if you have ace-5, anyone with ace-6 or better will crush you. For that reason, do not play ace-rag if your strategy rests on making top pair. Rather, fold your hand.

This isn’t to say ace-rag has zero potential. If your poker hand connects with the flop, there could be an opportunity to exploit. The trouble is that there aren’t all that many favorable flops for rag aces. Sure, you could flop two pair, but the chance is only one hand in 49, and you’ll only get action if your opponent hits the flop, too.

It’s always possible that you’ll flop a straight draw. With your ace, it would have to be a gutshot straight, with +1,076 odds of making it on the turn and +506 odds of making it on the river. If you flop an open-ended straight draw with your kicker, your hand will be vulnerable to higher straights.

Ace-rag suited? Your odds of flopping a flush draw are +800, and +11,800 of flopping a flush outright. Hopefully, your opponent will also catch a piece of the flop and give you some action.

Ace-Rag Tips

How you play ace-rag preflop largely depends on your position. From early position, it’s best to ditch your hand outright. If you raise, you can find yourself in awkward situations, such as getting called by players acting after you postflop.

When facing a raise with ace-rag, it’s also usually correct to fold. The exception would be when you’re the cutoff or button, your ace is suited, and the stacks are deep. Then it could be worth it to see the flop in hopes of hitting a flush draw.

It usually isn’t worthwhile to call raises from the blinds as you won’t have position on them after the flop. Again, it could be worth it if your ace is suited and the overall situation (stack sizes, number of players, the amount of the raise) is favorable.

Don’t forget about the dangers of TPNK. Suppose the small blind raises preflop, and you call with ace-3 suited, hoping for a flush draw. Then the flop brings an ace. You have top pair — but you shouldn’t get excited. You can test the waters with a bet, but if anyone else bets, raises, or even calls, be prepared to let go of it.

Playing Rag Aces in Tournaments

As a general rule, ace-rag seldom wins anything but small pots, which is why folding tends to be the best cash game strategy. You just don’t want to burn money chasing a slim chance. But a different kind of thinking applies to cash games versus poker tournaments.

Stacks, not bankroll, are what counts in online poker tournaments, so it can make sense for a short-stacked player — one who’s down to their last five or six big blinds — to open-shove with ace-rag. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and at least you’ll beat any unpaired hand without an ace.

What you don’t want to do when severely low-stacked is to call a raise. It’s a better poker strategy to go all in with a chance of winning the blinds and antes than to play against what will most likely be better hands postflop. You’re the underdog in this scenario, so why not show your teeth?

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